Bradford City take promotion push to final day again: 'This is a part of our story,' says Graham Alexander

It is an improvement on the last two seasons. A fifth straight win to close out 2023-24 was not enough, and only Antoni Sarcevic's dramatic stoppage-time winner took them up from League Two 12 months on.

But it brings dangers. It is important not to lean on doing just enough at Exeter City on Saturday.

Manager Graham Alexander, walked the walk against Bolton.

"We have one way of playing and that's to try and score and put pressure on the opponent," he said after Bradfordian Kayden Jackson's volley in front of the Kop cancelled out a Johnny Kenny strike that felt like it had been coming for a while.

"I don't see how we can change, and play in a slow way or a deep-lying way. I don't think that's really us."

Of course there is what managers say, and what managers do. If it does get to squeaky bum time at St James' Park, there is human nature too.

To look at Bradford's numbers, you could be forgiven for being sceptical. They are the second-lowest scorers in League One's top half, but solid enough defensively for a positive goal difference.

"We've got a really good defensive record this season and I think it's because we attack," is how Alexander explained it. "We don't spend a lot of time in our defensive third.

"We have to go there looking to win. It's how we've approached every game this season. I don't see why we would change now."

It certainly helps when you have defenders as committed as Curtis Tilt, who produced a huge block on Amario Cozier-Duberry midway through the first half, then another in the second on Ruben Rodrigues.

A goalkeeper who makes the saves Sam Walker does is handy too. A wickedly-dipping deflected shot by Ibrahim Cissoko was tipped over. He frustrated Kenny in the second half, until a deft turn onto a pass from Hull City loanee Mason Burstow did for Tilt and he finished skilfully.

Ibou Touray produced an excellent goalline clearance, and there was luck when Cozier-Duberry's mishit cross kissed the crossbar.

Bolton had the upper hand but Bradford always looked to score.

The Trotters made a goalline clearance of their own, Jenson Metcalfe livid at beating the goalkeeper but not finding the net.

It was a nearly performance, a Josh Neufville cross not getting the touch it was begging for, a Tilt pass going just out of Jackson's reach.

But the intent was always there.

"Our attacking output has probably been under what's expected of us," admitted Alexander, "but to win the amount of games that we've won this season indicates we're a good team with good players."

When the game was in the balance at 0-0, he pushed for victory.

An extra attacker came on. Rather than make way for Will Swan, Jackson went out to the right wing.

Going behind seven minutes later was not a good look, but pushing for three points brought one. A lesson for Saturday.

"I didn't know what the other scores were at that point," stressed Alexander. "I just felt the game just slipping a little bit from us and I just felt we needed to throw a punch.

"I think it sent a message to the team that we're here to win.

"There's nothing to be negative about. We're in an unbelievable position that no-one would have given us at the start of the season."

If the build-up to Jackson's goal, eight minutes after Kenny's, was super-scruffy, his finish was exquisite.

So now to Devon, for D-Day.

"Since we came in a couple-and-a-half seasons ago, the last game has always had something," said Alexander. "It's exciting, isn't it?

"We've done a phenomenal job to spend 44 (gamedays) in the top six. But we're still not cemented in that.

"There were only three starting players that were part of the game last season – Aden (Baldwin), Sam and Laps (George Lapsile) – so there's a lot of newness there.

"But I think knowing that this club has been at that stage, had the pressure and competed at the top end, it's good for the players.

"I think they know what this club is now, the lads who are new. They understand this is a part of our story here, about taking it to the last game and showing what we're about."

Bradford City: Walker; Baldwin, Wright, Tilt; Neufville (Powell 65), Power, Metcalfe (Swan 65), Touray; Lapslie, Humphrys; Jackson.

Unused substitutes: Hilton, Evans, Wheatley, Pennington, Ashby.

Bolton Wanderers: Bonham; Johnston, Forino, Toal, Christie, Sheehan (Dempsey 87), Rodrigues, Cissoko (Gale 87), Kenny, Cozier-Duberry, Burstow.

Unused substitutes: Broome, Conway, Simons, Apter, McAtee

Referee: S Stockbridge (Tyne and Wear).