Bolton reached the Sky Bet League One play-off final after clinching 1-0 semi-final second leg win at Bradford. Xavier Simons scored the only goal to seal a 2-0 aggregate victory.
For the most part, it was a cagey and fraught encounter at Valley Parade where chances came at a premium. It was 68 minutes until the first shot on target.
They decisive period of the game came in a period of 68 second-half seconds.
Bolton players celebrate Xavier Simons’ late goal that sealed a 2-0 aggregate win over Bradford
Bantams forward Kayden Jackson was adjudged to have been offside when he headed in, and from the counter-attack that followed, Xavier Simons slammed home to take the game out of their reach.
Steven Schumacher’s side will face Stockport at Wembley on Sunday May 24, with a place in the Sky Bet Championship on the line.
Bolton reach second play-off final in three seasons
Bolton were in control throughout the first half and managed eight shots. At times, they played like they were the home team. But the total xG value of those was just 0.66 – and none were on target.
Despite needing just one goal to level the tie, Bradford lacked the seemingly required urgency before the break – and for more than 15 minutes after it before they were denied in spectacular fashion.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Bolton’s Jack Bonham with a brilliant save to keep the score 0-0 in their play-off semi-final clash with Bradford
The ball was rolled to Max Power, who unleashed a thunderous first-time strike from the edge of the box, which looked destined for the net before goalkeeper Jack Bonham acrobatically tipped it onto the crossbar.
Pressure continued to build for the hosts, and they thought they had levelled the tie on aggregate when Kayden Jackson headed in after Nick Powell’s header on a corner from the right was kept out by Bonham. The latter had, however, strayed offside and the goal did not count.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Xavier Simons makes it 2-0 on aggregate in Bolton’s play-off semi against Bradford
Just 68 seconds later, Bolton hit their opponents with a sucker-punch. The counter-attack was rapid, the finish from Simons was emphatic. With just nine minutes of the 90 left to play, finding a way back was a step too far for Bradford.
‘Really professional performance from Bolton’
Sky Sports’ Jobi McAnuff:
“The disappointing thing from Bradford’s perspective is how much they got themselves into the game. Little tweaks in the second half meant they looked a lot better but Bolton stood up to those moments.
“The goal killed the move. Really professional performance from Bolton but that is how you get through the play-offs and get to the final.”
Alexander: We have to feel the pain – but I’m so proud of my team
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Bradford City boss Graham Alexander praised his players and the supporters of the club this season, after the Bantams’ season ended with a playoff defeat to Bolton.
Bradford manager Graham Alexander speaking to Sky Sports:
“I’ve just told the players that in nearly 40 years of football, I’ve never seen a support base recognise a team’s effort after a game that we’ve been beaten in ever. It’s down to the special feeling we have at this club; the players, their work ethic, their commitment to the game. If you’re going to go down, you go down swinging like that.
“That was some performance from my team, I thought, and it’s a sore one to take because we want to win. But those scenes at the end are going to live with me for a long time.
“I’ve been around and there’s ways of behaving and committing and my players have been absolutely magnificent this season. To follow on from promotion last season, finish fourth and go toe-to-toe with a club like Bolton – that was recognised by the supporters and they’re not stupid, they know what they see.
“I’m proud of everybody connected to our club today, but we’ve got to feel the pain. It’s as simple as that.”
Schumacher: That was stressful, very stressful!
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Bolton boss Steven Schumacher shares his thoughts after a ‘stressful’ playoff semi-final win over Bradford
Bolton head coach Steven Schumacher speaking to Sky Sports:
“Stressful! Very stressful. I thought it was a tight game, Bradford were really good in the second half. Credit to them, they have had a really good season.
“Graham [Alexander] can be proud of his team. Thankfully, we came out on top in what was a tight game. We wanted to play our usual style but Bradford’s pressure, the intensity was higher, it was difficult for us to find spaces.
“We created one or two moments in the first half but in the second half, we were so careless. The one time we showed composure, we got in and Xav [Simons] tucked it in.”
