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

I’m not predicting a result in the poll but I feel strangely calm, probably because I never thought we’d be in this position. I’m just going to enjoy it, and what will be will be.

 

Sadly we or anyone else can’t have it both ways . All divisions bar L2 generally have you yo clubs by the dozen.

 

Just been having a look at predictions for tonight. None may give us a chance tbh, which is intriguing. One went for Stevenage to win overall. Steve Evan’s acolyte has a stable team who are comfortable in their own skin! The other one went for Stockport. Both relied on form from the league. Anyone who knows anything about City, we are completely unpredictable and I would say we have a very strong work ethic, we won’t give up.
I like others think we will keep it tight to start with, might try and wear them down and snatch a goal at the end

 

Their usual tactic is to play out from the back but they changed it at least for the first half at VP. They obviously don’t like being pressed

 

If we were to get promoted it would be one hell of a struggle to stay up,but I would really like that battle.

 

Absolutely.

To be in this position is incredible really. We know we've got a team that can compete and will do their utmost. It might be enough, or it might not, but it's great to have pride in the team again.

 

Well some said the same about this league.

 

No expectations from me, just enjoying the fact the season is still alive at this point. Hopefully give a good account of ourselves tonight to take onto the second leg.

 

It will be interesting to see whether we stick with the 3421 formation or go to the 4231 that we switched to after about 20 minutes in the home game.

Whichever it is we have to either be able to stop the easy switch of play or get tighter to their wingers quicker as that was where all of their danger came from.

 

We gave them far too much room in that last game. Hope we go three at the back with the wing backs concentrating on defensive duties to start with.

 

For the first time this week, felt a little apprehensive when I woke up. Listened to the gaffer via YouTube and nice and calm now.

Up the chickens

 

I felt very calm last week - I know Exeter had something to play for but the fact is they were where they were for a reason.

Calm today as well - maybe it’s because nothing is decided tonight or maybe that we’re where we are for a reason. GA must have got a lot right this season - others probably got January wrong and GA contributed with a couple of ‘protest’ line-ups, but, we finished 4th and I’ll trust him to make the right choices tonight.

 

Anybody used the links of the other L1 clubs to have a gander at the two Bolton fans forums. Strange that there’s very little content considering the seriousness of the games coming up compared to the activity on this site. Is there another site they have/use?

 

If we do end up losing 4-0, and the playoffs are over for all intents and purposes, I still want to see a packed VP to applaud our progress this season.

I know some will immediately feel like skipping it on Thursday, but that would be wrong IMO.

And absolutely no boos, we've done remarkably well.

 

They can be got at, their defence certainly isn't as strong as they'd like. Hopefully GA doesn't set up just to defend a 0-0 because it very rarely works. Hopefully he'll give them something to think about as well.

 

I don’t think GA ever sets us up to just defend a 0-0 draw. He has consistently said that his aim is to win every game we play, home or away. I think we won’t go completely gung ho but we will try to press them and we will look to counter on the break, with the diagonal balls getting us up the pitch quickly.
Let’s hope that Jackson is now fully match fit and brimming with confidence from his two excellent finishes in the last two games, so that he gives them far more to think about than he did at VP.

 

Play off football is different though. The thought processes may also be different.

 

Not according to GA’s presser on Wednesday. Saying we’ll treat it like any other game and set out to win it.