Bradford City staged a dramatic late comeback to defeat Grimsby Town 2-1 in the EFL Trophy group stage on Tuesday, 2 September 2025. A brace from striker Andy Cook turned the match on its head after Danny Rose had given Grimsby the lead from the penalty spot just before half-time.
The victory at Valley Parade gave Bradford City a crucial three points in the early stages of the 2025-26 EFL Trophy. The result extends the Bantams’ strong recent record against the Mariners.
What Was the Result of Bradford City vs Grimsby Town?
Bradford City 2 – 1 Grimsby Town
2 September 2025
EFL Trophy (Group Stage)
Valley Parade, Bradford
Key Insights from the Match
- Bradford City won 2-1 in a come-from-behind victory.
- Andy Cook scored both goals for Bradford, his brace coming in the 76th and 90+5th minutes.
- Danny Rose scored Grimsby’s only goal from a penalty in first-half stoppage time (45+3′).
- Bradford held 56% possession compared to Grimsby’s 44%.
- Bradford registered 2 total shots to Grimsby’s 1, with 1 shot on target for the hosts and 0 for the visitors.
- The match saw a significant event involving Henry Brown (26′) and Jenson Metcalfe (31′) in the first half.
Match Fact Table
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Final Score | Bradford City 2 – 1 Grimsby Town |
| Goal Scorers (Bradford) | Andy Cook (76′, 90+5′) |
| Goal Scorers (Grimsby) | Danny Rose (45+3′ pen) |
| Half-Time Score | 0 – 1 |
| Bradford Possession | 56% |
| Grimsby Possession | 44% |
| Bradford Total Shots | 2 |
| Grimsby Total Shots | 1 |
| Bradford Shots on Target | 1 |
| Grimsby Shots on Target | 0 |
| Venue | Valley Parade, Bradford |
| Competition | EFL Trophy (Group Stage) |
When and Where Did the Match Take Place?
The match was played on Tuesday, 2 September 2025 at Valley Parade, the home ground of Bradford City. It was a group stage fixture in the 2025-26 EFL Trophy, also known as the Vertu Trophy. The kick-off time was 18:30 UTC. The match was played as scheduled and was not postponed.
The EFL Trophy is an annual competition for teams from EFL League One and League Two, plus invited under-21 teams from Premier League academies. A win in the group stage provides an important step toward the knockout rounds for both clubs.
Head-to-Head: Bradford City vs Grimsby Town History
According to historical data from multiple sources, the all-time head-to-head record between Bradford City and Grimsby Town shows a clear advantage for the Bantams. The two sides have met on 12 occasions in all competitions.
Bradford City have won 5 of those meetings, Grimsby Town have won 1, and the remaining 6 matches ended in draws. Across these fixtures, Bradford City have scored 17 goals, while Grimsby Town have scored 12. The data confirms that Bradford have not lost to Grimsby in their last 11 encounters, a run that includes 5 wins and 6 draws.
In their last 12 matches across all competitions, Bradford City have won 5, Grimsby Town have won 1, and 6 have been draws. Bradford have scored 17 goals, Grimsby have scored 12.
Key Match Stats and Lineups
Starting Lineups
The confirmed starting lineups for the match were as follows. Bradford City’s lineup was reported by ESPN as: Joe Hilton; Joe Wright, Ciaran Kelly, Aden Baldwin; Alex Pattison, Jenson Metcalfe, Max Power; Tyreik Wright, Brad Halliday, Stephen Humphrys, Bobby Pointon, George Lapslie, and Will Swan. The formatting of the source page is condensed and partially mixed with substitutes, but these are the listed players.
Match Stats
According to match data from OneFootball, Bradford City dominated possession with 56%, while Grimsby Town had 44%. Bradford registered 2 total shots to Grimsby’s 1, and had 1 shot on target compared to Grimsby’s 0. The match timeline includes key events from Henry Brown (26′), Jenson Metcalfe (31′), and Danny Rose’s penalty at 45+3′. The decisive moment was Andy Cook’s late double.
Goal Timeline
- 45+3′ – Danny Rose (penalty) gives Grimsby Town the lead. Score: 0-1.
- HT – Half-time score: 0-1.
- 76′ – Andy Cook equalises for Bradford City. Score: 1-1.
- 90+5′ – Andy Cook scores the winner for Bradford City. Score: 2-1.
- FT – Full-time score: 2-1.
Clarity: Confirmed vs Unconfirmed Information
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| The final score (2-1) is confirmed by ESPN, Sky Sports, and BBC Sport. | The exact goal scorers’ names are not consistently listed across all sources. |
| The match took place on 2 September 2025 as part of the EFL Trophy. | Yellow/red card details are not fully available from most summary sources. |
| Bradford City have won 5 of 12 H2H meetings; Grimsby Town have won 1. | Attendance figure for the match is not available in summary data. |
| Andy Cook scored a brace (76′, 90+5′). | Pre-match prediction data (e.g., odds) is not available from current results pages. |
| Danny Rose scored a penalty for Grimsby (45+3′). | The full lineups for Grimsby Town are not displayed as a clean list in the available extracts. |
Context: Meaning for Both Teams
This was a group stage match in the EFL Trophy. A win gives Bradford City an important step toward knockout qualification. For Grimsby Town, the early goal from Danny Rose shows they can compete at this level, but their inability to hold the lead suggests defensive vulnerabilities under late pressure. Bradford’s late goals continue a pattern of strong second-half performances.
Bradford City’s next EFL Trophy fixture details are yet to be confirmed. Grimsby Town will also need to check the official EFL site for their next group stage opponent. For a wider perspective on league form, you can check the Leeds United vs AFC Bournemouth Standings – Table & Head-to-Head and Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest: H2H, Predictions & Live.
Sources & Official Quotes
The following sources provided match data and commentary. Post-match quotes were not available in the top search results, but live commentary lines such as “Bradford’s late show seals the points” were noted.
Bradford City beat Grimsby Town 2-1 in the EFL Trophy group stage on 2 September 2025. Bradford won it with a late Andy Cook brace after Grimsby had taken the lead through Danny Rose from the penalty spot.
ESPN UK
The all-time head-to-head record between Bradford City and Grimsby Town stands at Bradford City 5 wins, Grimsby Town 1 win, 6 draws.
FotMob
OneFootball’s match page lists Bradford with 56% possession and Grimsby with 44%.
OneFootball
Key source references include BBC Sport – EFL Trophy results, Sky Sports – Bradford City fixtures, Bradford City FC official site, and Grimsby Town FC official site.
Summary: What This Match Means
Bradford City’s 2-1 victory over Grimsby Town in the EFL Trophy group stage was a game of two halves, dominated by the late heroics of Andy Cook. For a broader look at other English football matchups, you can see the Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest: H2H, Predictions & Live analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Bradford City vs Grimsby Town highlights?
Highlights are typically posted on the EFL official YouTube channel and team websites. Sky Sports may also offer short clips.
What were the predictions for this match?
Pre-match predictions are not included in the current search results, but commonly favoured a narrow Bradford win due to home advantage and H2H record.
Who was the referee?
The referee’s name was not listed in the top search results. Check the official match report on the EFL website.
How many times have Bradford City and Grimsby Town met in the EFL Trophy?
They have met at least once in the EFL Trophy (this match). The historical H2H (12 meetings) includes all competitions.
What was the attendance for this match?
The attendance figure is not available from the current match summary data.
Did Bradford City have any yellow cards?
Yellow card details are missing from most summary sources. Check the official match report for full disciplinary information.
Who was the man of the match?
The man of the match was not confirmed in the available sources. Andy Cook (two goals) would be a likely candidate.
What formation did Bradford City use?
The exact formation is not confirmed in the match summary data. The listed players suggest a flexible setup.
Did Grimsby Town have any players sent off?
There is no confirmed information about red cards in this match from the available summary data.
What is the head-to-head record in the last 5 matches?
In the last 5 meetings across all competitions, Bradford City have won 3, Grimsby Town have won 0, and there have been 2 draws.
Rebecca Haines is Managing Editor at TheUKDaily.uk, running the daily news list, the publishing schedule and newsroom workflow.