Bradford City's point in the right direction and could these sides meet again in Bolton in late spring? - final word
POPULAR TV game show Bullseye - with a new Lancastrian compere in charge these days - recently made a comeback and for these two Roses high-fliers, it was a case of ‘look at what you could have won’.
A win for Bolton Wanderers or Bradford City would have moved either to the League One summit. In front of Wanderers’ biggest home crowd since some heady Premier League days over a decade ago, this was the sort of occasion which these two clubs are hankering for on a regular basis.
No victory for City, who are now winless in six league games, but they were afforded a bit more than their BFH – ‘bus fare home’ – after leaving this particular part of Red Rose country.
As befitting a town whose list of famous celebrities includes Peter Kay, Vernon Kay and Dave Spikey, Bolton are in the entertainment business and Wanderers manager Steven Schumacher cajoled those in white to put on a show ahead of Saturday’s game.
Their dazzling recent form, more especially at home, had certainly caught the eye of late and League One’s hottest current winger in Amario Cozier-Duberry sporadically showcased his talent in a first half when Bolton knocked on the door considerably harder than Bradford.
On the resumption, it was different and became the sort of contest that a big 26,473 crowd merited with City being much improved following the interval arrival of Antoni Sarcevic – given the bird on his return to his former club – and Steven Humphrys, who had taken a liking for this venue earlier in his career at Wigan.
‘Personality’ was the word that Graham Alexander used to describe his side’s display and on the second-half evidence, when City played in front of the end populated by 5,000 of their supporters, he had a point.
Humphrys went close early on and substitute George Lapslie almost won it at the death from close range. It was one point instead of three, but being the first side to take something away from Bolton since August 23 represented something meaningful for Bradford against a Wanderers side who were chasing a ninth successive home win for the first time since 1992.
City's in-character efforts on the restart suggested that their return to winning ways won't be too far away.
Their orderly defensive performance throughout, with Joe Wright excelling in the heart of the backline in particular and Sam Walker doing what he to do, was also reassuring.
Alexander said: "I think the supporters understand our team. They see real effort and commitment. I think they've got a perspective about where we are in the grand scheme of things.
"Coming to a club like Bolton and the attitude that we show, I think the supporters enjoy it. They see their team sticking their chest out (saying): ‘We're here to compete. We're proud to be Bradford players’. So that for me is really fulfilling. And I think it's long lasting."
These two clubs reconvene at the Toughsheet Community Stadium for an EFL Trophy tie in just over a week's time. The question is will a third and final 2025-26 meeting in Bolton transpire in late spring?
Bolton Wanderers: Sharman-Lowe; Christie, Toal, Johnston, Conway; Sheehan, Morley (Simons 71); Cozier-Duberry, Dempsey (Forss 71), Osei-Tutu (Cissoko 74); Burstow (Dalby 71). Unused substitutes: Miller, Forino, Randall.
Bradford City: Walker; Pennington (Baldwin 48), J Wright, Touray; Neufville (Lapslie 82), Power, Pattison, T Wright; Metcalfe (Sarcevic HT), Pointon; Swan (Humphrys HT). Unused substitutes: Hilton, Byrne, Cook.
Referee: D Drysdale (Lincs).