Bradford City have made their best start to a League One season in 17 years, winning five of their first seven games and keeping a clean sheet in every victory. The 15-point haul from those seven matches is the club's highest since the 2008-09 campaign, putting them top of the table this week.
They lead the division by a single point from Sheffield Wednesday. Their recent form shows four consecutive wins, the latest a 1-0 victory at Luton on Saturday where Bobby Pointon scored early.
Defensive strength underpins success
All five of Bradford's wins this term have been to-nil, a foundation that has propelled them to the summit. The defensive record shows just four goals conceded across the seven games, contributing to a goal difference of plus three. This solidity has been key in turning tight contests into valuable points, as seen in the recent 1-0 wins over Notts County and Mansfield Town.
Their only defeats came in a 2-0 loss at Plymouth and a 2-1 home reverse against Cambridge United at the start of the month. Despite those setbacks, the response has been emphatic with four straight victories.
Historical context and the chasing pack
This early-season form marks a significant improvement. The last time Bradford City collected 15 points from their opening seven third-tier games was in the 2008-09 season under Stuart McCall. That campaign ultimately ended in a playoff final defeat, but the current momentum offers a different kind of promise.
While Bradford set the pace, other notable teams have had mixed beginnings. Leicester City, for instance, have taken nine points from their seven games with two wins. At the other end, Wigan Athletic's four points represent their worst start at this stage since 2016-17, having lost seven of their last nine league outings.
Individual performances elsewhere have also caught the eye. Reading's Jack Marriott leads the scoring charts with eight goals, the most by any player after seven games since Devante Cole last season. Plymouth's Oliver Irow has found form with three goals in his last two appearances.
Looking ahead to Barnsley
The immediate focus for Bradford is maintaining this standard. They host Barnsley at Valley Parade this Saturday. Barnsley currently sit 18th in the standings, presenting an opportunity for City to consolidate their position at the top.
With the squad showing both resilience and a knack for grinding out results, the challenge is to extend this positive run. The next fixture is against Barnsley at home on 26 September.
More detail at efl.com
