The Voice - Match preview League One Playoff Semi-Final: Bolton Wanderers vs Bradford City Saturday 9th May 2026 8:00pm

That was right in the corner so no chance for Sam imo on this occasion. I was annoyed that Cozer-Duberry was left totally unmarked but that was because for the first time the whole defence was out of its normal shape. Left Touray with 2 men to mark but unfortunately he went to the guy that missed it!

 

To be fair last night showing was how we've won most of our away games earlier in the season, keeping it tight playing low risk football but taking one or two of the few chances that come our way. Only in the second half of the season have we developed the habit of defending well for 95% of the game only to gift a couple of opportunities by switching off. Both of them last night fell unfortunately to the very impressive Cozier-Cuberry.
Thursday night is all to play for but the problem arises of needing to score at least twice to win in regulation time. And thats something we struggle to do with how we set up.
Interesting to see how Alexander approaches the second leg and how he addresses the lack of creativity. My call would be to start Tyreik Wright, we looked a different level attacking wise when he came on.

 

I like a good over celebration at half time

 

Tyriek has to start and Id start Humphries over Lapslie. Hard worker but little quality.

Hump, Jacko, Sarc front 3.

 

I hope Wright is okay for Thursday, he seemed to go down injured right at the end?

 

If he's sticking to the back 5, drop Tilt or Touray and start Tyreik at LWB. Drop Lapslie for Humps and have Jackson and Humps as the forwards, Sarce in the 10.

If he wants to go 4231 again, Baldwin RB, Touray LB and have a narrow back 4, Neufville and Wright as your pace and both naturally drop back anyway. Sarce 10 behind Jackson.

 

All about how fit he really is. If we can realistically get 60-70 minutes out of him then starting Tyreik is an absolute no brainer.

 

Except the second ref was even worse, in not awarding us a pen and no yellow for sheehan for diving in on power
He seemed to favour the whites a tad more than City but that is my bias i guess

 

Blimey. That was a good start from our point of view. You set up to keep it tight with 11 men behind the ball for most of that first half. I expected few chances and neither of us created much.

We would have loved that second to go in two minutes after the first, the ball defied physics to stay out, but we go to yours a goal to the good. I expect the same line up and the same tactics to be honest. We'll keep it tight, use our wide men, but try to exploit the spaces you leave when you double up on them better.

If we can nick a second, or get to HT at 0-0 , you'll have to gamble and I'm hoping the nerves in the crowd will start to get to the 11 on the pitch.

FWiW, the Sheehan incident was laughable refereeing. Having just warned your player and not booked him for two bad tackles, I think the refvwas making a point. He evened it up by booking Cissoko for a dive which wasn't. Serves him right for being too theatrical when he went down. It wasn't a penalty for me at either end, your guy should have pulled the trigger or cut inside - poor forward play from my point of view.

Both Stevenage and Stockport were abysmal yesterday. It's winner takes all on Thursday.

 

That ref ducks out of every decision . I watched a game in the last month and likewise he gave nothing contentious. Yesterday , Rodriguez stands ( being kind) on Jackson ankle on the touchline in front of a packed stand , seconds later Jackson fouls the same player and the ref remonstrated with Jackson , pointing back up the touchline to say that what’s “ retribution “ so booked him . He bottled out of booking Rodriguez! Many more examples where he gave nothing that could be deemed “ arguable” . Best thing he did , subbed himself.

 

I'd go with the former and drop Tilt, bringing Touray in at LCB and Tyreik at LWB

 

Are you being facetious , of course being one nil down at half time reduces the odds of winning. Crikey the obvious! People are suggesting it’s a far better result than getting battered whilst still giving us a chance in the tie . After watching year on year stagnation we have to look at progress. We didn’t give out much hope for the season , let alone the play offs . Let’s not denegrate supporters for optimism . It’s been earned for once and not purchased by loads a’ money..

 

Ok, for me there is something in the air. Lady Luck likes coming to VP, and has certainly had a hand in our affairs this season as she did last season. Who expected Bolton to drop into 5th position right at the end? Giving us the 2nd leg at VP? Then their almost second goal last night that ran along the line and hit the post and out? Expect drama and excitement at a packed VP on Thursday night.

Remember: Bradford City v Blackpool. We lost at VP by 2 goals to nil. Nobody give us a chance apart from faithful fans, not as many as we have now. We went to Blackpool on a lovely May evening and beat them 3 nil. Never give up hope when City are in town. If we lose we do, but don’t give in to negativity, these lads played out of their skin last night. Our band of brothers will be doing their utmost on Thursday. Lady Luck has had her VP dress dry cleaned for the occasion.

 

We may have amassed 77 points but our play is defensive and hardly attacking. Its more than boring at times. We need to change that style for Thursday and next season. 1-0 to the Arsenal style (but conceding) doesn't work for us

 

Stockport are yet to avoid defeat against us this season , ..useless stats at this stage . What has gone has gone Petrov? You know what, I bet they are more disappointed at their 1-0 win last night than we are ( or should be!) .

 

Is it our turn for a decent ref on Thursday? I would settle for one who does his job, and two linesmen who don’t need glasses tbh.

 

It’s half time guys and we are losing 1-0 and we have 90 not 45 minutes to get back into the game
Bolton had that bit more quality on the night but back at VP we have to make a difference
On the referees, I thought they were alright
Sheehan was a lucky boy though, on another night could have been sent off , the pull back on Jackson was a yellow and was he not the one with the lunge at Power that went unpunished
It was similar to Baldwin challenge that got him a red the other week
Roll on Thursday. We can do this

 

Think I would too. Feels like Tilt has a fair few slips in him lately and Touray with Tyreik tracking, Metcalfe with midfield legs should be enough to cover. Think we need to play faster this next leg and try peg them back.

 

Love it!
After years of despondency, there's no need for that now. Play off games are generally won on fine margin moments- a bit of quality, a penalty shoot out, a dodgy decision or a defensive howler etc. That ball hitting the post and rolling across the line last night could well turn out to be the pivotal moment of the whole tie.

 

Wasn't it a. Bolton legend getting prematurely "carried away" that night too