The Bantams will travel to the capital this weekend to face Sutton United in a Sky Bet League Two clash set for 3.00pm.
City will visit Gander Green Lane for the first time after The U’s promotion last season marked their EFL debut.
The London-based side have enjoyed one of the most surprising seasons in the country. Despite many predicting their return to the National League, The U’s occupy the final play-off spot with two games to play.
On top of their impressive league form, Sutton have already graced the Wembley pitch this season - losing to Rotherham United in the Papa Johns Trophy final earlier this year.
We have put together an Opposition Guide to give you all the information you need to know ahead of our 45th league fixture of the campaign.
TRANSFER ACTIVITY
The U’s had a fairly quiet January window, opting to stick with the players who had brought them their record-breaking success thus far.
INCOMINGS: Stuart Nelson (Dorking).
OUTGOINGS: Bradley House (Carshalton Athletic), Tobi Sho-Silva (Carlisle), Filip Chalupniczak (Tooting & Mitcham, loan), Kylian Kouassi (Chesham, loan), Harry Palmer (free agent).
ONES TO WATCH
David Ajiboye
David Ajiboye joined Sutton United in 2019 as current manager Matt Gray’s first signing for the club. Ajiboye put pen to paper after a prolific season with Worthing, scoring 16 times in the Isthmian League.
The 23-year-old is The U’s top scorer this season, with eight strikes to his name.
Ajiboye has seemingly been unfazed by the step-up from semi-professional football and has contributed to 14 of Sutton’s goals this season.
Rob Milsom
The U’s creative outlet, Milsom plies his trade at left-back but is more than comfortable slotting into the midfield.
Milsom has contributed more assists than any of his team-mates, with seven, scoring the same amount.
At 35 years old, Milsom is an integral part of Matt Gray’s side and is showing no signs of slowing down.
Alistair Smith
Smith joined The U’s in summer after a short stay with Altrincham and has hit the ground running in the capital.
The midfielder is one of four players out of Gander Green Lane who have scored seven or more goals this season.
The 22-year-old netted two goals midweek during their 3-0 dismantling of Crawley Town.
CAPTAIN
Craig Eastmond captains the U’s and has done so since the 2019/20 campaign. Eastmond moved to Sutton in 2015, earning the club’s Player of the Year award in his first season.
The 31-year-old spent time on loan with Millwall, Wycombe and Colchester before joining Sutton to begin his six-year spell. Eastmond has made 250 appearances for the club and was voted Player of the Season in their promotion campaign last time out.
Eastmond has made 30 appearances this season, featuring in the centre of midfield or in a centre-back pair.
MANAGER
Matt Gray is the man in the dugout at Gander Green Lane, after taking charge in 2019. Gray has already secured icon status for himself in Sutton by achieving the club’s first promotion to the EFL.
The U’s job is Gray's first in management, joining the club as a coach initially in 2018 and stepping up to the main role after Paul Doswell’s departure.
Gray experienced Sky Bet League Two as a No.2 at Crawley and Aldershot and has enjoyed his start to league football as manager - guiding Sutton into the play-off spots in the first half of the season.
LAST MATCH
Sutton 3 (Alistair Smith 4’, 85’, Richie Bennett 7’)
Crawley 0
SUTTON: Dean Bouzanis; Jonathan Barden (booked 35’, Kylian Kouassi 90’), Ben Goodliffe, Louis John, Robert Milsom; Will Randall (Enzio Boldewijn 81’), Alistair Smith, Harry Beautyman ©, David Ajiboye; Donovan Wilson (Isaac Oloafe 78’), Richie Bennett. SUBS (not used): Coby Rowe, Stuart Nelson, Kenny Davis, Ben Wyatt.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
City: 0
Draw: 1
Sutton: 0