The Voice - Match preview #45: Bradford City vs Bolton Wanderers Saturday 25th April 2026 3:00pm

Got to give the team great credit for going toe to toe with a very good Bolton team despite us missing 3 of our most creative players. Getting the midweek draw against Plymouth will have taken a lot out of us and with Bolton having a free midweek it was a tough assignment for us.

 

No idea how he will set us up and to be honest I don't think he has yet
Our lack of goals could well mean he goes out all defensive, parking the bus could be our downfall, oh for a target man centre forward capable of holding the ball in their half and help out in defence when needed (we used to/still have one)
Luton have won 5 out of the last 6 and are in cracking form Bolton could rest some of their better players
We have to factor in Stevenage, Wigan lost only once in the last 6 won't be a given and should give cause for optimism
Am trying not to think back to Peterborough 1980 on that horrible day when every result went against us but have to admit I see similarities to both seasons

 

“Full” . If that’s the case great.

 

Unbelievable scenes before the game in the city centre and on North Parade. The march along Manningham Lane was again priceless, the look of bewilderment on the faces of locals and drivers caught up in it as thousands of city fans partied their way to Valley Parade was a sight to behold.

 

The one saving grace with Bolton is they aren't yet guaranteed a 3rd or 4th place finish so I don't think they'll be taking the game lightly at all.

 

One of the worst days following city that

 

Hope you are right
Exeter need a win which could work to our advantage hopefully they will go all out attack and we catch them on the counter worst scenario they go one up early and pack their defence

 

Certainly was George Mulhall was already locked in the team coach as we were filing out

 

I don't know about Bolton resting players, they will want a top 4 finish for the second leg home fixture and if they lose could well end up 5th, they will also recognise that letting the form team in could mean playing them in the playoffs.. they still have something to play for.

 

So after the talk of Bolton and their loan players
I thought I would hand a look
They have 8 for this season and I would say every one better than anything we have on loan
Only 5 involved yesterday, which is the max you can have in a match day squad I think
Cissoko-Toulouse, Kenny-Celtic, Dubbery-Brighton and Burstow from Hull, their entire attacking front line, with Apter -Charlton on the bench
Marcus’s Forrs- Sherman Lowe and Blackett not involved
When you look at that and what we currently have missing, then drawing both games with them is remarkable. We battled and got a very valuable point

 

Decent result and performance all things considered...top side, missing 3 key men and had the mid week game.

That said Im very nervous about Saturday. Exeter need the win, Stevenage probably beat Wigan and Bolton dont really need the win against in form Luton.

 

As others have said, Bolton are not yet guaranteed to be at home for the 2nd leg, they would like to stop Luton who are in great form from getting into the play offs. I think they have something to play for.

 

Yes this gives me hope. I can't see Bolton wanting to give an easy ride to a team there's every chance they would then face in the playoffs, be it semi final or final. I think they're going to want to hit the playoffs in good form to build momentum I guess unless there's players who are not 100% they may decide not to risk

 

Agree, I don't think Bolton will be too fearful of meeting us or Stevenage in the playoffs and will see Luton as a genuine threat. As such it's certainly in their interests to keep them out.

 

Is next week's game being shown on sky with a 3pm kick off?

 

We gave him far too much space Bronco, that's why Tilt ended up twisting and turning imo.

 

Edited that for you.

 

GA said on radio Sarc has had an injection and should be travelling diwn to Exeter.

 

TBF Neufville got very little service yesterday in positions where he could attack their fullback. The one time he did, in the first half, he skinned him, got to the byeline and put a ball in that nearly lead to a goal.