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

See the moaning twats are out in force ffs this was always gonna be a big ask a team that has been around here for how many years ??? A team thats budget shites on ours so lets give a bit of credit for our FIRST year back at this level ..............we have massively overachieved so credit to everyone including the crowd tonight who stuck with them even at 1-0 down ............proud of our club and our brilliant fans tonight

 

I don't agree. In the second half until the goal was ruled offside the noise from City fans was tremendous. It obviously didn't come across on the TV.

 

Erm?

You've lost me there mate.

 

Surprised about comments about the atmosphere. I thought it was cracking for the most part.

Gutted, but it's been a terrific season.

 

0-0 at half time put us in a good position. You can't fault the game plan. Staying in the game until the second half gave us the best chance of turning the tie round. We threw attackers on and looked favourites to score only to be hit with a sucker punch completely against the run of play. Bouncing around saying 'I told you so' isn't really having the impact you think it is.

 

You couldn’t raise a horn you little girl.

 

I think it must be where the microphones are placed for TV. Usually at the back of Midland Road, tonight right in the middle of Bolton fans.

 

Player ratings for what it’s worth

Walker - 6 - didn’t have much to do. Not at fault for their goal

Touray - 5 - very slow in decision making, getting the ball forward

Tilt - 3 - Honestly think his sole game plan was to leave one on Cozier Duberry every time he had the ball. Poor distribution

Wright - 7 - The best of our defenders. Marshalled their attackers well

Baldwin - 3 - Poorest game for us in a long time. Wasn’t up for it. Lost too many 50/50s. Passing wayward, backed out of too many challenges. He's been pivotal to our success so I'm not gonna let one game cloud my judgement of him. Great player for us but today is one to forget

Neufville - 5 - Didnt really have an impact on the game, was doubled up for most of it so cant fault him too much

Power - 3 - When it comes to League One promotion battles, it should be his bread and butter. Needed to step up and lead by example. Just made a series of mistakes and put in some crap crosses

Metcalfe - 5 - clearly had his head turned, his form has dropped off a cliff

Pointon - 5 - Lacked match fitness. A yard off the pace but tried to make things happen

Sarcevic - 5 - Annonymous. Thought he’d be more fired up to get one over Bolton

Jackson - 5 - a lot of effort. But a lack of end product. Doesnt help when your being deployed as a target man

the subs

lapslie - 6 - Did well. A good addition to the team. Mystery as to why he was left out of it for so long

Wright - 7 - a new player after January. Happy for him and glad he's got his mojo back

Humphries - 3 - besides a backheel, losing the ball twice and conceding a foul within his first 5 minutes of being on the pitch, he didnt do much and I forgot he was playing

Powell, Swan - N/A - Never really got into the game

 

I never liked that gameplan, but I understand people thought it was sensible.

We ended up having scored 1 goal in 5 games against Bolton.

We didn't have a half to waste worrying about 0-0, unfortunately.

Anyway. Onwards and upwards, it's going to cost money to improve on that effort, let's hope Rupp has either attracted the investment or digs deep because we simply need to be more lethal next year.

 

It didn’t , conversely the commentators said exactly the same . . I wasn’t there only reporting what was evident .

 

Tilt - 2 - absolute shocker, didn't put a foot right. Justifiably hauled off at half time.

 

Ultimately a feeling of disappointment, but one that is natural with seeing the season end like that. We had a good 15/20 minute period in the second half where we put them under pressure but that's nowhere near enough over two games. I thought we were quite timid in that first half and only when we started playing football did we manage to create chances on goal. Bolton were very good though with threats all over the pitch so fair play to them.

It's a big summer ahead now to see how we evolve the squad and push on again. Alexander has to find a way to get our spark back from an attacking sense because ultimately our lack of quality in the forward areas has cost us in the end.

But overall a really positive season with some memorable moments.

 

What was Humphrys ideas when he came on too? Never tracked, didnt jump for anything, didnt press, didnt make runs, didnt show or create a channel for Tyreik to overlap. He looked like he couldn't be arsed being on the field.

Really weird output from someone who is on the fringes and given a big chance to try get the team going forward.

 

Well I was there, and like @Hulmebantam I thought the atmosphere was brilliant from our fans.

 

To give Bobby a 5 and Power a 3 says all for the rest …Daft!

 

Can’t complain about the result over the two games. Doesn’t take away from a fantastic season. Let’s build on this now and improve for next season. We can’t afford two poor transfer windows in a row.

 

Agree, I don’t want to see him again . Couldn’t care less attitude ?

 

It’s how it comes across on the mics therefore . All we could hear is Bolton ! Another ticketing faux pas addition.

 

I dont get some folk some times its was a 1-0 loss in the first game not 2 or 3 just the one goal to chase down ...........had we gone gung ho from the start they would have picked us off........

 

You have got to be proud of GA and the players for giving us a terrific season.

Play offs definitely a step too far, Bolton deserved to go through.

I thought the defeat on the night was harsh though, not that a draw would have done us any good.

I hope we get our recruitment right in the summer and build on the momentum of the last 2 seasons by adding more quality.

Back to tonight. Touray and Neufville handled their dangerous wingers very well and Touray man of the match by a mile.

We seemed far too rushed in everything we did going forward in the first half and Bolton were very comfortable.

We had a good go when he threw on all the subs, but Tyriek Wright apart, we sadly lacked that bit of quality.

Shame about the offside 'goal'. It would have made for an interesting last 20 mins or so.

I am not too disheartened tonight. We need at least another 12 months at this level and establish ourselves like Stockport have and hopefully then ready to challenge for higher.