Newcastle vs Bradford | Football Previews & Free Betting Tips | 24th September 2025

It’s a proper cup tie at St James’ Park on 24 September 2025 as Premier League hosts Newcastle United welcome in-form League Two challengers Bradford City in the Carabao Cup. The hosts have been solid across league and Europe, while the visitors arrive buzzing after a string of wins and a giant-killing mood.

Expect a lively, sold-out home crowd with a noisy travelling section. Newcastle should control long spells through a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 build, compressing the pitch and recycling possession. Bradford’s plan is likely compact mid-block into fast transitions, with the front line ready to run channels and test the space behind the back line.

• Territory vs transitions: Newcastle average 58% possession and complete 84% of passes, so they’ll try to pin Bradford in. The visitors are at 52% possession with a punchier direct streak, happy to go wide–then–early.
• Set-piece needle: Both sides average 0.4 set-piece goals per match. First contact and second phases will be huge with the box crowded.
• Pressing trade-off: Newcastle post 13.5 shots per game to Bradford’s 12.0, but Bradford’s 15.2 tackles/interceptions suggests a willingness to jump passing lanes and break.

Newcastle (last 10): 8W 2D 0L — Goals: 22 for / 8 against, clean sheets in 40% of matches. The rhythm is strong at home with steady chance creation and a tidy goals-against column.

Bradford (last 10): 9W 1D 0L — Goals: 22 for / 7 against, clean sheets in 50% of matches. The visitors are ruthless in League Two and have carried that edge into the cup.

Trends: Newcastle often start on the front foot (slightly more first-half goals), while Bradford are clinical when counters open up. Both have reliable set-pieces.

Newcastle United: 1.80 per match • Bradford City: 2.00 per match.

Newcastle United: 0.80 per match • Bradford City: 0.80 per match.

Newcastle United: 40% • Bradford City: 50% of matches.

Newcastle United: 58% • Bradford City: 52%.

Newcastle United: 6.0 • Bradford City: 5.5 per match.

Newcastle United: 1.9 • Bradford City: 1.6 per match.

Newcastle United: 13.5 / 4.5 • Bradford City: 12.0 / 4.2.

Newcastle United: 1.65 xG / 1.00 xGA • Bradford City: 1.55 xG / 0.90 xGA.

Scored per game — Newcastle United: 0.4 • Bradford City: 0.4. Conceded per game — Newcastle United: 0.2 • Bradford City: 0.3.

Pass completion — Newcastle United: 84% • Bradford City: 75%. Tackles & interceptions — Newcastle United: 14.8 • Bradford City: 15.2 per match.

Newcastle United: 52% of goals first half, 48% second half. Bradford City: 55% first half, 45% second half.

Newcastle games: 50% under / 50% over 2.5 • Bradford games: 40% under / 60% over 2.5.

Newcastle United: 2.20 • Bradford City: 2.44.

Newcastle at home: strong run with four wins and a draw across the last five at this ground in all comps, two clean sheets and reliable shot volume.

Bradford away: recent away line shows W-D-W with one clean sheet; happy to play on turnovers and break quickly down the channels.

Newcastle regularly craft around 1.6–1.7 xG, while Bradford trend closer to 1.5–1.6 xG. The away side’s xGA below 1.0 underlines a compact shape, but the Premier League hosts still carry the higher ceiling for chance volume.

These clubs haven’t met since 2013 in the FA Cup at this stadium, a home win on that day. Earlier FA Cup ties from the 1950s and 1930s leaned the same way overall, with the hosts taking four of the last five and an aggregate of 15–7 across those fixtures. History is thin but tilts towards Newcastle.

Bradford’s form is no fluke — organised off the ball, quick into space, and tidy from dead balls. But over 90 minutes at St James’, Newcastle’s control game, set-piece threat, and bench depth should weigh in.

Prediction: Newcastle United 2–0 Bradford City.

Main Pick: Both Teams To Score – no