Bradford City 0-1 Bolton Wanderers: League One Playoff Semi-Final Match Report & Player Ratings

Bradford City 0-1 Bolton Wanderers: League One Playoff Semi-Final Match Report & Player Ratings

Bradford City 0-1 Bolton Wanderers

Bolton Wanderers reach Wembley and the EFL League One playoff final after repeating the result of the first leg beating Bradford City 0-1 at Valley Parade.

The Whites had won 1-0 in the first leg at home, so knew avoiding defeat would be enough to earn them the chance to potentially earn a place back in the second tier at the national stadium.

Valley Parade was packed with loud and proud Bradford fans, and they were on their feet and making themselves heard just four minutes in, as their side had a penalty shout waved away after they felt Bolton captain Eoin Toal had illegally pushed striker Kayden Jackson off the ball in the penalty area.

The home side struggled to create during much of the first half, with the closest they came to goal coming from a long ranged volley effort, which deflected wide of the Bolton Wanderers goal.

The chance came after Bolton went close at the other end, as a corner looked to have been finding it's way straight into the net, before being kept out by goalkeeper Sam Walker.

Young midfielder Jenson Metcalfe, who had struck that first half volley, came close to equalling the tie again in the early stages of the second period. Curling a low effort just wide of the post as Bradford looked for that crucial opening goal.

Huge save from Bolton goalkeeper Jack Bonham 💪

Bradford go close to levelling the tie on aggregate 🤏 pic.twitter.com/rnHFPjxCRd

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 14, 2026

And they so nearly found it 67 minutes into the contest, with Bolton goalkeeper Jack Bonham being forced into action with a superb stop, keeping out a curled effort from the edge of the box which was flying into the top corner. However, the stopper managed to get a fingertip to push the strike onto the crossbar and out to keep his side with the aggregate advantage.

Just over ten minutes later, Bradford thought their moment had come, as a header from a corner was nodded down to Jackson who finished from close range, however the striker was clearly offside and the goal was swifty ruled out to cancel the Bradford bedlam.

And right up the other end just seconds later, the killer moment came as Bolton substitute Xavier Simons got on the end of a cutback and cushioned a first-time strike into the near corner to give Bolton a two-goal advantage with ten minutes to go, and silencing a gutted Valley Parade.

Look at the scenes! 🤩

Bolton are on the brink of Wembley after this hit from Xavier Simons ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/Lem9hUiAqF

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 14, 2026

That proved to be the end of the road for Bradford who have enjoyed a strong season, but fell short to Bolton who can now look forward to a date at Wembley with fellow Greater Manchester side Stockport County

Player Ratings

Bradford City Ratings

• Walker: 6

• Baldwin: 6

• Wright: 6

• Tilt: 6

• Neaufville: 5

• Metcalfe: 5

• Power 6

• Touray: 6

• Pointon: 5

• Sarcevic: 6

• Jackson: 4

Bolton Wanderers Ratings

• Bonham: 8

• Johnston: 7

• Forino-Joseph: 8

• Toal: 7

• Osei-Tutu: 7

• Erhahon: 7

• Sheehan: 6

• CIssoko: 6

• Rodrigues: 6

• Cozier-Dubrerry: 7

• Burstow: 6

Player Of The Match: Chris Forino-Joseph

Saint Lucia international defender Chris Forino-Joseph was at the heart of a Bolton defence that managed to keep out their opponents for the second time in the tie.

The centre-back made ten clearences during the game. Proving a tough nut to crack and will be hoping for the same at Wembley.

Bad Day At The Office: Kayden Jackson

It was a night to forget for Bradford striker Kaydon Jackson.

Leading the line, his side would have been counting on him to be the difference and turn the tie around, but he just couldn't get himself into the game. Registering just one shot throughout the 90 mins, which went off target.