The Voice - Match preview League One Playoff Semi-Final: Bradford City vs Bolton Wanderers Thursday 14th May 2026 8:00pm

I'd take 0-0 at half time in a heart beat right now. The biggest risk is conceding early. Itd be a huge mistake to come flying out the traps imo. If it's 0-0 at half time they'll be getting edgy, we'll have a decent bench of players who can influence the game and we tend to do better recently later on in games. If it's 0-0 at half time I'll be heaving a huge sigh of relief and full of optimism for the second half. They'll inevitably start sitting back and we will be putting on the pressure.

 

Graham only starts players coming back from injury if they’re full fit. If Pointon starts, then it’s no risk imo

 

Last game of the season isn't the same as other games during the season. Far better to start Pointon and him come off than come on as sub and have to go off

 

I'd be more worried about his sharpness than his fitness.

 

Oddly some don’t think “match fit” is a thing Dave? . Tyreik’s return was handled very very well, why change a formulae that works?

 

Whilst it would be fantastic to see Bobby involved, no way is he starting imo and nor should he. Potentially we have 120 minutes to play tomorrow and imo our impact players from the bench could be the key as to whether we get through.
Tyreik may start but only if he is capable of at least 60-70 minutes, so that may prove too big an ask.

 

Yeah, Bobby hasn't looked great coming back from injuries, and it is much more the sharpness than anything else.

I'm not sure at this stage I'd even bother playing him in the next games unless he's secretly been training at 100 %.

And that seems to be the noise GA is making, TBH.

 

Who do we contact about the free ponchos?

 

Bobby probably taking his place in the 18...!

 

Youd take 0-0 at half time in a game we are losing, against a side we have managed 1 goal against in 360 minutes of football....and in a heartbeat?

Jesus christ......

 

I think there's more chance of us being a goal down by half time than not so yes I'd definitely take it right now. I think they are capable of scoring, they have better attacking quality than we have and I'll be relieved if it's still 0-0 at half time. I dont think you understand what 'take a result' means. It doesn't mean I want it to be 0-0 at half time, it means that 0-0 at half time is a better outcome at half time than I'm expecting.

Based on your view of how we have been playing recently and, like you say, our lack of goals what would be your prediction for where we will be at half time?

 

Honestly if we got to 75 minutes at 0.0 I'd possibly fancy us to grab a late leveller. Not saying I want that but I think it's very risky to just go for it from the start. The width of a post article said it right in my opinion. We won't win this tie in the first 30 minutes but we could certainly lose it. We need to ensure we don't concede, don't let their wingers get into the game too much, accept they might have spells of possession and be patient about that and then find a way to hurt them more when we get the ball or counter.

 

No, I think I dont understand the mentality of fans like you.

My prediction? I just know, but I do know I wont be sighing relief, counting my lucky stars and clapping till my hands are raw if its 0-0 at HT. Not to say I would be unhappy....Its just 45 minutes closer to exit.

 

There's got to be a happy medium at least for me. I dont think all out attack from the whistle is the answer, but we cant have another 45 minutes against them where their keeper does absolutely sod all. We cant be too patient in the first half and let them settle into their gameplan.

BTW, no team in the country won more points in the last 15 minutes of games than Bolton. If games this season lasted 75 minutes, Bolton would have finished 19th in the league. Statistically there's not really a worse team we could keep it tight and hope the last 15 go our way against, than Bolton.

 

Clint Eastwood

 

We need to properly test their keeper.. at the end of the 1st leg when we were pinging balls into the box he was all over the place and looked very suspect.. we need to exploit this.. but knowing GA he will play “how he wants” ie just play our game without exploiting weaknesses in their team

 

Both will be on the bench. I've had a word with Graham

 

Long journey for a game to remember. I have a feeling it will go to extra time tonight.

 

Safe travels and hopefully a game we'll be watching back in years to come!

 

Can we fly that Argentinian kid over.