Harrogate Town will host Bradford City this coming Saturday at 12:30 BST, as the Bantams look for their first ever league victory against their neighbours.

Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars suffered just their fifth defeat of the 24 games they have been in charge on Tuesday, as they were stunned by a lowly Crawley Town side who were previously winless in seven.

This might give hope to Simon Weaver's Sulphurites, who have won just one of their last nine outings and are presented with the opportunity to grasp the double over Bradford, after defeating them live on Sky Sports earlier in the season.

Unlike Harrogate however, Bradford are keeping their play-off ambitions alive, as the Bantams are now just four points adrift of the top seven.

The hosts will once again be without Simon Power and Josh March, who are long-term absentees and are unlikely to appear again this season.

Former Guiseley striker Aaron Martin will also be absent, after picking up an ankle injury.

Jon Stead and Joe Cracknell could be within the starting eleven as they push for starts against their former side.

Bradford fans will be hoping to see Levi Sutton restored to the starting eleven, as he returns to fitness.

Callum Cooke also nears a return but remains unavailable alongside Lee Novak, Reece Staunton, Zeli Ismail and Harry Pritchard.

  • Predicted lineups

Harrogate Town: Belshaw; Burrell, Smith, Hall, Jones, Thomson, Falkingham, Kerry, McPake, Stead, Muldoon

Bradford City: O'Donnell; A O'Connor, P O'Connor, Canavan, Wood, Sutton, Watt, Vernam, Rowe, Evans, Cook

  • Ones to watch

George Thomson

In his first year playing in the Football League, Thomson has flourished under Weaver and adapted adequately to the rough and tumble of League Two football.

The dynamic winger has notched three goals and eight assists, but gives the full-backs a torrid time in every game he plays, including Connor Wood in the previous encounter. His directness and pace makes his a viable option for Harrogate, and one that must be utilised.

Anthony O'Connor

In a week which has seen Bradford fans beg for the Irishman to sign a contract extension, Anthony O'Connor has been a revelation this season.

Capable of playing at right-back, centre-back or in midfield, the tough tackling brute has split up play and commanded his position. His leadership qualities shine through, and after grabbing the winner at the weekend against Grimsby Town, he's shown he can be lethal in whichever box of the pitch.

  • Previous meeting

The previous encounter between these two sides finished with Bantams supporters furious with Stuart McCall, as a change of tactics backfired as Harrogate clinched a 1-0 win live on Sky Sports. The only goal of the game came courtesy of Lloyd Kerry, who has been a regular for the Sulphurites this season. The match before that was in pre-season 2018, which Harrogate won 7-2 despite being a non-league side.

​​​​​​​The match is available on iFollow via Harrogate or Bradford's respective club websites, with match passes at £10 for those in the United Kingdom.