Bolton hit Bradford with sucker-punch to reach L1 play-off final

Bolton reached the Sky Bet League One play-off final after clinching 1-0 semi-final second leg win at Bradford. Xavier Simons scored the only goal to ensure a 2-0 aggregate win.

For the most part, it was a cagey and fraught encounter at Valley Parade where chances came at a premium. It was 68 minutes until the first shot on target.

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They decisive period of the game came in a period of 68 second-half seconds.

Bantams forward Kayden Jackson was adjudged to have been offside when he headed in, and from the counter-attack that followed, Xavier Simons slammed home to take the game out of their reach.

Steven Schumacher's side will face Stockport at Wembley on Sunday May 24, with a place in the Sky Bet Championship on the line.

Bolton were in control throughout the first half and managed eight shots. At times, they played like they were the home team. But the total xG value of those was just 0.66 - and none were on target.

Despite needing just one goal to level the tie, Bradford lacked the seemingly required urgency before the break - and for more than 15 minutes after it before they were denied in spectacular fashion.

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The ball was rolled to Max Power, who unleashed a thunderous first-time strike from the edge of the box, which looked destined for the net before goalkeeper Jack Bonham acrobatically tipped it onto the crossbar.

Pressure continued to build for the hosts, and they thought they had levelled the tie on aggregate when Kayden Jackson headed in after Nick Powell's header on a corner from the right was kept out by Bonham. The latter had, however, strayed offside and the goal did not count.

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Just 68 seconds later, Bolton hit their opponents with a sucker-punch. The counter-attack was rapid, the finish from Simons was emphatic. With just nine minutes of the 90 left to play, finding a way back was a step too far for Bradford.

"The disappointing thing from Bradford's perspective is how much they got themselves into the game. Little tweaks in the second half meant they looked a lot better but Bolton stood up to those moments.

"The goal killed the move. Really professional performance from Bolton but that is how you get through the play-offs and get to the final."

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