Bradford City's Sam Walker taking home comfort into League One play-off second leg

The Bantams went into the final game of the regular season fifth in League One but won at Exeter City to take advantage of a Bolton Wanderers defeat to set up a home second leg in the play-off semi-finals.

Considering how strong both teams are at home, and with Valley Parade already guaranteed its biggest ever play-off crowd on Thursday, it is why the Bantams were fairly relaxed to lose 1-0 at Bolton on Saturday.

It makes the second leg equation slightly different, but only slightly.

Four consecutive defeats, three at home, in 2024 were the turning point of Graham Alexander's managerial tenure. Since then, Bradford have taken 114 out of a possible 147 points, losing five out of 49 Valley Parade league matches, and winning 35.

“We've been really strong at home for a long period of time and we'll be backed by a sell-out crowd or not far off," said Walker, who joined from Charlton Athletic in the mid-season 2024 transfer window.

“The fans that came in their thousands on Saturday, sang gloriously all night long and really backed us.

"You could hear them right from the moment we stepped out to warm up, right until after the final whistle when we went over and appreciated their efforts – we’re really together.

“I'm sure it'll be a raucous atmosphere on Thursday night and a great game under the lights at Valley Parade. What’s not to love?

“The equation's clear for us. In some ways that makes it easier as well that we've got to go and win the game and score some goals.”

Walker is pleased the set-up of the stadium will mean fans behind him in both halves too.

“I shouldn't be getting too much stick from the TL Dallas (Stand)," he said, "hopefully not, anyway!

“Our fans will create that atmosphere like they always do. It's just a really great game to look forward to.

“We've worked incredibly hard from the first day of pre-season to put ourselves in this position and it's time to grab the opportunity with both hands.

“We've shown resilience all season but we've particularly shown a lot of it over the last month or so, making sure we got over the line and got ourselves into the play-offs.

“It's time for us to use all that experience. After the game the manager didn't really have to say too much because a lot of us were saying the right things already.

“We all know the situation. We all know where we stand.

“Bolton have got a very clear style of football. They have lots of players that can cause you a problem and lots of players that are a threat.

"But we play the way we do and we've got lots of players that are a threat as well.

“Both teams know each other really well (Thursday will be the fifth game between them this season). We are two good teams that have had a really strong season and won lots of games of football.”

With away goals not part of the equation, any two-goal win will take Bradford through to the Wembley final on May 24, where they will face the winners of Wednesday's second leg between Stockport County and Stevenage. Hosts Stockport are defending a 1-0 first-leg lead.

A one-goal lead from Bradford after 90 minutes will take Thursday’s game into extra-time and if needed, penalties.

With the Bantams better defensively than in attack, it is why Walker and co were so pleased with how they kept Bolton quiet on Saturday.

Amario Cozier-Duberry's goal was the game's only shot on target, albeit he did hit a post minutes later.

“We were really strong with our defensive work," commented Walker.

“We’ve watched bits of different play-off games and they all seem to follow a similar pattern. They’re tight and tense affairs and two good teams cancelling each other out for large parts.

“A moment of quality from them won the game but we're very much in the mindset of it's half-time and we're 1-0 down.

“The equation for Thursday is pretty clear. There were lots of positives to take and it’s a game to really relish and look forward to at Valley Parade.”

"(The goal was) a great finish. There are little bits in the build-up that we'll look at and try to tighten up it takes a moment of quality to settle those tight games and he produce that.

“But equally, we've got a lot of guys that are capable of producing that as well and that's what we'll be focussing on for Thursday night.”

Of Cozier-Duberry's shot against the woodwork, he said: “It was a big sigh of relief. Sometimes you earn that little bit of luck over the course of a season.

“It stayed out and kept it at 1-0 and we had chances at the other end as well that equally might have gone another way on a different day.”

At the time of writing, Bradford had sold nearly 21,000 tickets for the 8pm kick-off.