Sixty-Eight Seconds. The Game Changed Twice.
Bradford thought they had levelled the tie. Jackson headed in. Valley Parade erupted. The board showed the flag up — offside. Ruled out.
Sixty-eight seconds later Bolton broke on the counter. Xavier Simons received it, took one touch and smashed it into the net. 1-0. 2-0 on aggregate. Bolton are going to Wembley.
Sixty-eight seconds. That is all the time that separated Bradford’s best moment of the night and their elimination.
The First Half Was Bolton’s Without a Goal
Bolton managed eight shots in the first half. Not one on target.
They moved the ball well, pressed high, dominated large spells. At times it looked like they were the home team. Valley Parade was loud. Bradford were passive. Waiting for their moment rather than creating one.
The xG for Bolton’s first half was 0.66. Plenty of possession, very little genuine threat. That number tells you everything about how the half played out.
Nothing at the break. 0-0. Bradford still alive. Needing one goal to level the tie. Everything still possible.
Power Hit the Bar. Bonham Saved It.
Bradford came to life in the second half. They had to.
The moment that defined their night came before Simons’ goal. Max Power rolled the ball to himself on the edge of the box and hit it first time. Thunderous. Going in. Goalkeeper Jack Bonham — Bolton’s best player across both legs — flung himself to his right and tipped it onto the crossbar.
The ball came back out. Bradford did not score from the rebound. That save was one of the best of the entire play-off round. The kind that ends careers and defines seasons from the other direction depending on which side you are on.
Valley Parade grew louder. Bolton held on.
Jackson’s Goal. Flag Up. Simons on the Counter.
Nick Powell headed a corner out to Jackson. Jackson attacked it. It went in. It was given. Valley Parade went absolutely wild.
Then the flag went up. Offside on the header. VAR in the play-offs confirmed it. Ruled out.
Players standing in silence. Crowd in silence. And then Bolton broke immediately. Rapid counter. Simons in space. One touch. Hit. Net.
2-0 on aggregate. Nine minutes left. Bradford had no way back.
Alexander sent on every forward available. It did not matter. Bolton saw it out. Schumacher celebrated on the touchline. His players piled onto each other in front of the away end.
What Both Managers Said
Graham Alexander on Sky Sports: nearly 40 years in football, never seen a crowd recognise a team’s effort after a defeat like Bradford’s support did on Thursday. Praised every player. Talked about going down swinging. He is right. Bradford had a fine season — promoted last year, fourth place this year, two legs against Bolton in the semis. That is progress.
Steven Schumacher: “Stressful. Very stressful. Bradford were really good in the second half. Credit to them.” He knows how tight it was. Bonham’s save. The offside flag. 68 seconds of football deciding everything.
Bolton Go to Wembley
Second time in three seasons Bolton have reached the League One play-off final. They know this stage. They know what is required.
Cozier-Duberry lit up the first leg with a brilliant curling finish. Bonham was the wall across both games. Simons delivered the knockout blow when it mattered most.
The Wembley final date and opponent will be confirmed after the other semi-final concludes. Bolton will be there. Prepared. Organised. Hard to beat.
For more League One and EFL playoff coverage visit FawaNews football. Full League One playoff schedule and Wembley final details at the official EFL website.
Bradford City 0-1 Bolton Wanderers (Bolton win 2-0 on aggregate) League One Play-Off Semi-Final 2nd Leg | Thursday, 14 May 2026 | Valley Parade, Bradford | Att: 22,381 Referee: Martin Coy
Goal: Xavier Simons 81′ (BOL) Disallowed: Kayden Jackson (BRD, offside)
Bradford XI: O’Donnell | Staunton, Caddis, Neighbor, Foulds | Power, Powell | Evans, Dempsey, Fiacre Kelleher | Pointon Subs: Jackson (for Evans), Galpin (for Pointon), Threlkeld, Cook
Bolton XI: Bonham | Johnston, Forino Joseph, Toal, Osei-Tutu | Erhahon, Sheehan | Cissoko, Rodrigues, Cozier-Duberry | Burstow Subs: Simons (for Rodrigues), others
1st leg: Bolton 1-0 Bradford (Cozier-Duberry 60′) HT: 0-0 | FT: 0-1 | Aggregate: 0-2
