FT: Burton Albion 1-3 Bradford City - Bantams through to Wembley 5-4 on aggregate

The Bantams will be back at the national stadium on May 18 after overturning a first-leg deficit to beat Burton 5-4 on aggregate in the semi-finals today and Parkinson said they will prepare just as they did for the match against Swansea in February, which they lost 5-0.

“We will treat it exactly the same and we will go down there with the same mentality,” said Parkinson.

“When we played Swansea we knew it was going to be tough. This (the play-off final) will be a different kind of game but it will still be tough.

“It will be about what we do and we will do what we always do, which is keep going and give it our absolute all until the very last minute.

“That is what we have done in every game this season and we will do the same at Wembley and hopefully give ourselves a good chance of being promoted.”

Bradford, 3-2 down from Thursday’s first leg at Valley Parade, recorded their first-ever win at the Pirelli Stadium courtesy of Nahki Wells’ double either side of James Hanson’s goal.

Jacques Maghoma levelled up the tie from the penalty spot but Burton could not get themselves back on terms again after Wells had struck his 25th goal of the season - and his fifth against Albion this campaign.

After his side’s 3-1 win today, Parkinson added: “We didn’t play well in the first half, that first 45 minutes was probably as bad as we’ve played.

“Burton are a good team but I knew we could play so much better and we improved at the start of the second half.

“Although the result was the most important thing, I wanted the players to put in a performance for the fans because they have been magnificent all season.

“They have followed us all over the country all season at some expense. They have been so loyal and I wanted to reward them today. I wanted the lads to do them justice and I think they did that in the end.”

Despite the disappointment of Burton’s promotion dream ending, Albion boss Gary Rowett insists the club can take plenty of positives from this season.

The Brewers finished fourth in the table - their highest-ever Football League placing - and had the best home record in League Two, winning 17 of their home matches and losing just three.

“They were a little tougher than us and a little stronger when they needed to be,” said Rowett.

“They have a lot of experience in their team and I think that possibly came out today, and you have to say well done to Bradford because when they have needed to they have put in a huge performance.

“But there are so many positives to take from this season. Before the game I said to the players and staff that we have already won no matter what happens today.

“And I don’t mean that in a defeatist way. For a club like Burton to have achieved what we have this season, to stay in the top 10 pretty much all season and to be in the top seven for something like the last 16 matches, to sustain it, that is something we can all be proud about.

“We are all hurting at the moment but when we look back I think we will be able to stick our chests out and be proud of what we have done.”