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

GA should be showing the Huddersfield and Cardiff games from September on repeat to the players. Up and at 'em. Press. Don't give them time to settle.

That's how we need to play.

 

Oh. And the fans need to make it hostile.

Not just noise and usual chants, but on Bolton players backs, claiming every throw in, free kick, foul. Cheering for all territory, corners, tackles etc. Aggressive support.

 

Got to try something different. In our 3 League outings against Bolton this season, we have a total of 24 shots and 5 on target in 3 games. Averaging 8 shots per game against Boltons setup this season, when in the league total our average was a shade under 13 over the season and 4 on target per game. Whatever the plan has been so far hasn't been anywhere near good enough offensively to try and win a game against them and that needs a swift change on thursday!

 

Looking like it's going to be a wet one. Let's try get some bloody shots off against the 'keeper and who knows what might happen with a skiddy surface (always assuming the shots are on target of course )

 

They don't necessarily need to be on target, a deflection of a defender will do

 

Their keeper has a pretty naff record too i think they were saying? Something like over half the shots on target Bolton have had against this lad have gone in. Just pepper him!

 

We certainly need to put crosses in. He doesn't want to catch even the simplest balls into the box

 

That's what was annoying on saturday. It felt like they were asked to double up on the wingers and they were following the plan so nothing against them, but Neufville and Touray barely went into their half for most the game. All the width had to come from Sarce or Jackson pulling wide which meant there was never anyone in the box even if we did want to cross it.

Got to the braver tomorrow and trust Baldwin & Tilt more (if they are the wider CBs picked) and let the wing backs play like wing backs rather than deep in a flat back 5.

 

Like Southamptons “ fluke” last night?

 

Risk / Reward maybe needed , you are right. I could name two wingers that need to visit row C in the first two tackles

 

Hi All

Trying to purchase my Bantams TV for the second leg v Bolton, showing not available, help!!

 

Be great if we had someone who could head the ball though.

 

A common theme for months now - balls into the box and nobody there, and when there is, they cant win a header anyway. Baffles me we play to a certain players strength after he leaves us.

 

Nick Powell certainly can but it's very doubtful that he starts.

Mind you, the post was more about picking up the scraps when he makes a poor punch or drops it. We just need more bodies in and around the box when it comes in.

 

This is going around on twitter....... we've been here before

 

One to pin up in our dressing room...

 

I cannot believe they have done that The last team to do that to us was Blackpool. Kami just pinned it up, nothing to be said and they were 2 goals ahead!

 

Burton did it too didn't they? Fairly certain they had T-shirts printed with like "we are off to wembley" or something like that on the front

 

It’s not like you can just book loads of coaches to take you all to Wembley at a moment’s notice, so I don’t think that this is especially unusual. But their coaches won’t be needed, as we’re going to win.

 

I feel we'll need to score at least 2 goals just to even take it to ET/pens, and I wouldn't trust us to do that. Think Bolton will sneak through.