AFTER THE MATCH
📊 Bradford 0-1 Bolton (0-2 agg) — Xavier Simons off the bench at 81′ settled it; Bolton to Wembley. Read the match report.
📺 FROM THE DESK
Live commentary on Bradford City v Bolton in the League One play-off semi-final second leg at Valley Parade. Kick-off 20:00 BST. Bolton lead 1-0 from the first leg at the Toughsheet Community Stadium on Saturday — Amario Cozier-Duberry’s 60th-minute strike, assisted by Ibrahim Cissoko. Bradford need to score: a 1-0 win forces extra time, two goals or more sends them through outright in regulation. A draw or any Bolton scoreline sends Bolton to Wembley.
The pre-match preview — including the model’s split read and the H2H season pattern — is here ↓
Valley Parade, 1-0 Down: Bradford Chase, Bolton Defend
ARCHIVE Match commentary archive · 63 updates
SCORE0·1FT'
FTcommentBolton are off to Wembley. It was a scrappy first half in which Bolton defended and pressed well with neither side being able to create a clear cut chance. In the second half, Jack Bonham made 2 crucial saves, one where he touched Max Power's shot onto the bar and another from a header by Nick Powell that was touched in on the rebound by Kayden Jackson but he was offside. A defensive mistake from Aden Baldwin then gave Xavier Simons a chance to pounce, and the former Hull midfielder did just that, emphatically sending Bolton to Wembley where they will face Stockport for a place in the Championship
FTscore0-1
90+10'fulltimeFull-time, 0-1, 0-2 to Bolton on aggregate, they will play Stockport at Wembley
90+5'card🟨 Aden Baldwin did end up getting a card for his actions
90+3'comment7 minutes added for Bradford to score 2, bit of a flashpoint here as Aden Baldwin kicks through Thierry Gale for no reason
89'commentShot — Bolton, John McAtee drives into the box but hits it with no real authority and is an easy save for Sam Walker
87'commentCorner — Bradford
85'commentCorner — Bradford
81'goal⚽ Thierry Gale runs in behind and cuts it back, Aden Baldwin gets his defensive touch all wrong and Xavier Simons pounces on it emphatically, Bolton look like they are off to Wembley, just when Bradford looked like they might get a goal
81'score0-1
81'goal⚽ Xavier Simons WINS THE TIE FOR BOLTON, 0-1 AND 0-2 ON AGGREGATE
81'commentBradford were asleep for that goal
80'commentOffside — Bradford, corner whipped in, Nick Powell gets a head on it, brilliant save by Jack Bonham and Kayden Jackson heads in on the rebound but is flagged offside
77'commentFree kick — Bradford
76'commentFree kick — Bolton
76'sub🔄 Ethan Erhahon and Mason Burstow make way for Xavier Simons and John McAtee
73'commentShot — Bradford, Tyreik Wright shoots outside the box, deflects off Chris Forino and could've gone anywhere but goes into the side netting for a corner
72'commentShot — Bradford, Bradford getting chances, good cross in by Tyreik Wright and onto the head of Nick Powell, it was a difficult header and he heads over
68'commentShot — Bradford, OFF THE BAR, Brilliant effort by Max Power outside the box, the giant Jack Bonham gets a fingertip to it onto the bar, so close
65'sub🔄 Rúben Rodrigues and Ibrahim Cissoko withdrawn for Sam Dalby and Thierry Gale
62'sub🔄 Bobby Pointon, Jenson Metcalfe, Joe Wright replaced by Stephen Humphrys, George Lapslie and Nick Powell
56'commentPlenty of time for some drama here a one goal lead is not enough
55'commentFree kick — Bradford, left hand side
47'commentShot — Bradford, Jenson Metcalfe with a shot outside the box that doesn't quite curl in, just wide
HTkickoffKick-off for second half
HTsub🔄 Tyreik Wright on for Curtis Tilt
HTcommentHalf-time and no real clear-cut chance to talk about. Bolton have had 8 shots but a lot have been optimistic efforts. Both defences have been on top so far with Bolton looking the more likely to score. Bradford need to be better if they are to face Stockport at Wembley
45+3'halftimeHalf-time, 0-0 (0-1 AGG)
44'commentCorner — Bolton
44'commentFree kick — Bolton on the left
43'commentShot — Bradford, brilliant effort. Jenson Metcalfe gets really good connection on the volley from miles out, deflects wide for a corner
43'sub🔄 Eoin Toal comes off injured and is replaced by Max Conway
39'commentCorner — Bolton, won by Ibrahim Cissoko
38'commentAden Baldwin gets very lucky here, Amario Cozier-Duberry plays one in and Aden Baldwin looks to chest it back to Sam Walker but he almost chests it to Rúben Rodrigues, he can't control it properly though
34'commentCorner — Bradford
24'commentShot — Bolton, nasty ball in and Eoin Toal can't sort his feet out to direct it towards goal
23'commentCorner — Bolton
14'commentCorner — Bradford
12'commentFree kick — Bolton, right on the edge of the box, Jordi Osei-Tutu wins it high up
11'commentShot — Bolton, from his own half, caught by Sam Walker
10'commentLack of quality with the final ball right now, both sides attacking with pace
9'commentOur machine learning model predicting Bradford win in 90minutes by 1 goal , if so we are going to extra time here.
5'comment*fans who actually go to the game that is , armchair supporters are well catered for , of course.
5'commentLeague one play off final set to be played on 24th at 1pm unlike the Championship which got scheduled ridiculously at 4:30 pm . Fans come last again thanks to TV demands .
2'commentBolton have never previously won both legs of a playoff semi final tie, while they only won 1 of 9 away legs (D2, L6) - that was their most recent against Barnsley
1'commentShot — Bolton, Amario Cozier-Duberry runs in behind then cuts inside on the edge of the box but hits the shot over the bar
1'commentBradford managed just 3 shots in the first leg, only managing fewer against Lincoln in January (2), it was the first time this season they didn't get a shot on target
1'commentFeel like this is going to be exiting ...... let's see
1'kickoffKick-off
20:00commentBradford failed to win any of their last 3 home matches in the regular season (D2, L1), conceding exactly once in all 3 - this after they won 10 of their previous 12, keeping 8 cleansheets in those games
19:59commentBolton lost 2 of their final 4 away matches of the regular season (W1, D1), as many defeats as they suffered away in their last 13 . They avoided defeat on their final away game of the season, 1-1 with Bradford
19:58commentBradford have still managed to progress to the play-off final on two of their three previous occasions that they lost the first leg of a semi-final, losing 0-2 to Blackpool and winning the tie 3-2 on aggregate in 1996 and losing 2-3 to Burton Albion before coming back to win the tie 5-4 in 2013
19:56commentBolton are unbeaten on each of their last 5 league visits to Bradford, although they have drawn the last 4
19:56commentBradford have failed to win any of their last 11 league matches against Bolton including playoffs (D7 L4) losing the first leg of this one 1-0 with this run already their longest winless run against Bolton in their history
19:52commentBoth games this season in the league stage ended in a draw, with the game at Toughsheet Community Stadium ending 0-0, and the game at Valley Parade ending 1-1.
19:49commentJust testing lineup
19:49commentSetting the scene - Bolton take a 1-0 lead going into the second leg here at Valley Parade thanks to an Amario Cozier-Duberry goal. However, the atmosphere is set to be electric tonight, meaning the first goal is crucial and could decide the tie. You would expect a fast start from Bradford with Bolton needing to weather the storm and quieten the Bradford atmosphere.
19:46commentUpdate on 'Spygate', the Championship final, scheduled to be on May 23rd between Hull and Southampton could be postponed due to the EFL needing more time to sort the Spygate situation out. There is expected to be a hearing on or before May 19th.
19:44commentBOLTON LINEUP - No changes from first leg, Corey Blackett-Taylor, Kyle Dempsey, Marcus Forss and Johnny Kenny remain out
19:43commentBolton Starting Lineup - Bench: Cyrus Christie, Max Conway, Sam Dalby, Thierry Gale, David Harrington, John McAtee, Xavier Simons
19:36commentBRADFORD LINEUP - 1 change from first leg. George Lapslie drops to the bench and is replaced by Bobby Pointon.
19:34commentBradford Starting Lineup - Bench: Stephen Humphrys, Tyreik Wright, Nick Powell, Will Swan, Joe Hilton, Matthew Pennington, George Lapslie
18:49score0-0
Match commentary timeline
Auto-generated from live commentary. 61 entries between kickoff and full-time.
1′ comment Feel like this is going to be exiting …… let’s see
1′ comment Bradford managed just 3 shots in the first leg, only managing fewer against Lincoln in January (2), it was the first time this season they didn’t get a shot on target
1′ kickoff Kick-off
1′ comment Shot — Bolton, Amario Cozier-Duberry runs in behind then cuts inside on the edge of the box but hits the shot over the bar
2′ comment Bolton have never previously won both legs of a playoff semi final tie, while they only won 1 of 9 away legs (D2, L6) – that was their most recent against Barnsley
5′ comment League one play off final set to be played on 24th at 1pm unlike the Championship which got scheduled ridiculously at 4:30 pm . Fans come last again thanks to TV demands .
5′ comment *fans who actually go to the game that is , armchair supporters are well catered for , of course.
9′ comment Our machine learning model predicting Bradford win in 90minutes by 1 goal , if so we are going to extra time here.
10′ comment Lack of quality with the final ball right now, both sides attacking with pace
11′ comment Shot — Bolton, from his own half, caught by Sam Walker
12′ comment Free kick — Bolton, right on the edge of the box, Jordi Osei-Tutu wins it high up
14′ comment Corner — Bradford
23′ comment Corner — Bolton
24′ comment Shot — Bolton, nasty ball in and Eoin Toal can’t sort his feet out to direct it towards goal
34′ comment Corner — Bradford
38′ comment Aden Baldwin gets very lucky here, Amario Cozier-Duberry plays one in and Aden Baldwin looks to chest it back to Sam Walker but he almost chests it to Rúben Rodrigues, he can’t control it properly though
39′ comment Corner — Bolton, won by Ibrahim Cissoko
43′ sub 🔄 Eoin Toal comes off injured and is replaced by Max Conway
43′ comment Shot — Bradford, brilliant effort. Jenson Metcalfe gets really good connection on the volley from miles out, deflects wide for a corner
44′ comment Free kick — Bolton on the left
44′ comment Corner — Bolton
HT comment Half-time and no real clear-cut chance to talk about. Bolton have had 8 shots but a lot have been optimistic efforts. Both defences have been on top so far with Bolton looking the more likely to score. Bradford need to be better if they are to face Stockport at Wembley
HT sub 🔄 Tyreik Wright on for Curtis Tilt
HT kickoff Kick-off for second half
45+3′ halftime Half-time, 0-0 (0-1 AGG)
47′ comment Shot — Bradford, Jenson Metcalfe with a shot outside the box that doesn’t quite curl in, just wide
55′ comment Free kick — Bradford, left hand side
56′ comment Plenty of time for some drama here a one goal lead is not enough
62′ sub 🔄 Bobby Pointon, Jenson Metcalfe, Joe Wright replaced by Stephen Humphrys, George Lapslie and Nick Powell
65′ sub 🔄 Rúben Rodrigues and Ibrahim Cissoko withdrawn for Sam Dalby and Thierry Gale
68′ comment Shot — Bradford, OFF THE BAR, Brilliant effort by Max Power outside the box, the giant Jack Bonham gets a fingertip to it onto the bar, so close
72′ comment Shot — Bradford, Bradford getting chances, good cross in by Tyreik Wright and onto the head of Nick Powell, it was a difficult header and he heads over
73′ comment Shot — Bradford, Tyreik Wright shoots outside the box, deflects off Chris Forino and could’ve gone anywhere but goes into the side netting for a corner
76′ sub 🔄 Ethan Erhahon and Mason Burstow make way for Xavier Simons and John McAtee
76′ comment Free kick — Bolton
77′ comment Free kick — Bradford
80′ comment Offside — Bradford, corner whipped in, Nick Powell gets a head on it, brilliant save by Jack Bonham and Kayden Jackson heads in on the rebound but is flagged offside
81′ comment Bradford were asleep for that goal
81′ goal ⚽ Xavier Simons WINS THE TIE FOR BOLTON, 0-1 AND 0-2 ON AGGREGATE
81′ score 0-1
81′ goal ⚽ Thierry Gale runs in behind and cuts it back, Aden Baldwin gets his defensive touch all wrong and Xavier Simons pounces on it emphatically, Bolton look like they are off to Wembley, just when Bradford looked like they might get a goal
85′ comment Corner — Bradford
87′ comment Corner — Bradford
89′ comment Shot — Bolton, John McAtee drives into the box but hits it with no real authority and is an easy save for Sam Walker
90+3′ comment 7 minutes added for Bradford to score 2, bit of a flashpoint here as Aden Baldwin kicks through Thierry Gale for no reason
90+5′ card 🟨 Aden Baldwin did end up getting a card for his actions
90+10′ fulltime Full-time, 0-1, 0-2 to Bolton on aggregate, they will play Stockport at Wembley
score 0-0
comment Bradford Starting Lineup – Bench: Stephen Humphrys, Tyreik Wright, Nick Powell, Will Swan, Joe Hilton, Matthew Pennington, George Lapslie
comment BRADFORD LINEUP – 1 change from first leg. George Lapslie drops to the bench and is replaced by Bobby Pointon.
comment Bolton Starting Lineup – Bench: Cyrus Christie, Max Conway, Sam Dalby, Thierry Gale, David Harrington, John McAtee, Xavier Simons
comment BOLTON LINEUP – No changes from first leg, Corey Blackett-Taylor, Kyle Dempsey, Marcus Forss and Johnny Kenny remain out
comment Update on ‘Spygate’, the Championship final, scheduled to be on May 23rd between Hull and Southampton could be postponed due to the EFL needing more time to sort the Spygate situation out. There is expected to be a hearing on or before May 19th.
comment Setting the scene – Bolton take a 1-0 lead going into the second leg here at Valley Parade thanks to an Amario Cozier-Duberry goal. However, the atmosphere is set to be electric tonight, meaning the first goal is crucial and could decide the tie. You would expect a fast start from Bradford with Bolton needing to weather the storm and quieten the Bradford atmosphere.
comment Just testing lineup
comment Both games this season in the league stage ended in a draw, with the game at Toughsheet Community Stadium ending 0-0, and the game at Valley Parade ending 1-1.
comment Bradford have failed to win any of their last 11 league matches against Bolton including playoffs (D7 L4) losing the first leg of this one 1-0 with this run already their longest winless run against Bolton in their history
comment Bolton are unbeaten on each of their last 5 league visits to Bradford, although they have drawn the last 4
comment Bradford have still managed to progress to the play-off final on two of their three previous occasions that they lost the first leg of a semi-final, losing 0-2 to Blackpool and winning the tie 3-2 on aggregate in 1996 and losing 2-3 to Burton Albion before coming back to win the tie 5-4 in 2013
comment Bolton lost 2 of their final 4 away matches of the regular season (W1, D1), as many defeats as they suffered away in their last 13 . They avoided defeat on their final away game of the season, 1-1 with Bradford
comment Bradford failed to win any of their last 3 home matches in the regular season (D2, L1), conceding exactly once in all 3 – this after they won 10 of their previous 12, keeping 8 cleansheets in those games
