Derby vs Bradford Prediction: County to stroll into quarters

| January 08 |

2 mins read

This midweek, we've got more football action in the form of the EFL Trophy third round. Derby take on Bradford for a spot in the quarter-finals and we've given you our suggested best bets for the occasion.

Derby vs Bradford Betting Tips

Derby County to win and BTTS - 11/5
Derby -1 Handicap - 7/4

Derby County are currently sat in fourth in League One and are just two points off the automatic promotion places. They may well see this minor trophy as a distraction against the bigger aim of returning to the second tier. However, silverware is silverware and they remain one of the strongest sides left in the competition, so could fancy a run to Wembley.

Standing in their way is League Two Bradford, who continue to sack managers on a regular basis and under achieve in the fourth tier of English football. The West Yorkshire club finally dispensed with Mark Hughes in October and appointed lower league stalwart Graham Alexander as his replacement. Results initially picked up but the Bantams are winless in their last four and are sat moored in mid-table once again.

Team news

Paul Warne is without Jake Rooney and Conor Washington for this one and it also appears too soon for Korey Smith and Martyn Waghorn, who are training again after injury.

Meanwhile, Alexander is without Lewis Richards, Alexa Pattison and Jamie Walker for the trip to the East Midlands.

Match odds

Derby are big favourites to progress here and are as short as 4/7 to reach the quarters. Bradford come into this one as the 4/1 underdogs, with the draw backable at 11/4.

Goals are expected at Pride Park, with both BTTS and over 2.5 goals at 8/11.

Derby County to win and BTTS - 11/5

Derby have won four of their last five under Warne and looking further back have won nine of their last 11 in League One. The Rams are the second-highest scorers in the division and should have no problems seeing off a porous Bantams outfit at home.

However, City also possess some firepower, mainly in the form of Andy Cook, who has 12 goals in all competitions this season and Bradford have only failed to score in two of their last 20 games!

Derby -1 Handicap - 7/4

Doubling down on my first pick, I fully expect County to win this one comfortably and can envisage a similar score-line to Saturday, when they beat Fleetwood Town 3-1.