The game at Valley Parade between the sides was a strange affair. Bradford missed a penalty before both Rene Howe and Chris Fagan scored rare goals for the Imps. The Bantams still hadn't scored by that point, but went on to win their next game 5-4.

I think it's fair to say that I've been a critic of Chris Sutton, however, winning our last two games have seen us vitally move not only away from the drop zone, but also move us into the pack with the potential to move up at high as 17^th with a win over Bradford. However, you'd have to go back to October 2008 to find the last time City won three games in a row. The only other time we have managed two wins in a row this season, it was followed by a 1-0 defeat and nine League games without a win.

With a large amount of games between now and the end of February, with the Imps playing two games every week between now and March, it is an excellent chance for City to move up the table quickly, especially as we're playing a lot of sides. However, let's not take the amount of games for granted as we're playing a mixed variety of opponents.

We haven't lost to Bradford for two years, but have poor records against Burton and Dagenham. Our record at Hereford is 50:50 and that comes before a very tricky trip to Chesterfield. Following that is a game that before Tuesday night appeared to be a near certain guarantee of points, an away game at Darlington. Despite having only picked up eight points, they went to Rotherham United and won. Ironically, Rotherham will be City's next opponents.

Accrington Stanley visit on February 16^th having lost every game they've ever played at Sincil Bank (and before someone argues, they've only existed since the 1960s, any result before hand was a different club) and that's just before the massive game that awaits at Grimsby, a game that could effectively confirm City's safety. A trip to Port Vale follows before ending the month with a game against Crewe at home.

It'll certainly be a busy time for the Imps and it's a good thing that we have a massive squad. Rob Burch rejected a move to Bradford to join the Imps in 2008 and despite being heavily linked with a move to a big club during January, he is still at Sincil Bank. The defender in front of him will almost certainly contain Paul Green, Adam Watts and Joe Anderson, but the final defender will depend on if Baker remains on loan, if not then Moses Swaibu will step in.

The midfield isn't expected to change with the in-form Hughton start on the right wing. Chris Herd (right) will be aiming to continue the form that sees him lead the current poll of who City fans would keep out of the loan players, and he will most likely partner Scott Kerr in the middle. Saunders will complete the midfield quartet.

With John-Lewis scoring last week, you'd expect him to start up front the Imps, but therein lays the problem, who you put with him? He and Facey are too similar, Paul Connor is a hold-up player and him and LJL wouldn't score many goals, whereas Uwezu has barely had a shot in anger since joining on loan from Fulham.

Much like Barnet, Lincoln's last opponents, Bradford are out of form with their only two wins in the last two and a half months coming against Grimsby and Darlington, infact, you'd have to go back to September 5th to find the last time Bradford beat a side that were above them in the table at the time, that being a 2-1 win at Shrewsbury Town, they've only won four times since then.

One of Bradford's main problems is the lack of an ability not to concede. You'd have to go back to October to find a clean sheet against the side that aren't currently in the drop zone. They only kept a clean sheet seven times this season, even Lincoln have managed eight.

According to reports, Bradford were unlucky not to win against Bury the other night and having read Bradford's "Claret and Banter" forum, some fear that if the Imps win and move to within two points of the Bantams, that they will be in a relegation battle. However, I don't think they'll have any relegation troubles at all this season. Having seen Grimsby several times in the last few months, I believe that Bradford on a bad day are still better than Grimsby on a good day, so Valley Parade should easily still be a League Two ground next season.

In reality, this will be a game between two sides whom will finish midtable at best. Bradford are relatively safe from the drop and City are hitting a bit of form, so I can't see Grimsby and Darlington catching either side.

PREDICTION

As much as I'd love to beat Bradford at Sincil Bank, I can't really picture a maximum haul against a side who are fairly decent travellers. However, Bradford are hardly in the best form, so I think a draw is the most likely result. 1-1.

Imps 2 Bradford 2

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