Steve Morison’s 85th minute winner earned Millwall a narrow victory as they were promoted to the Sky Bet Championship.
The 33-year-old striker sealed a night of celebration for Millwall fans, but consigned Bradford fans to a night of agony with his late winner.
The Lions supporters can now experience what it’s like to be on the winning side of a play-off final after losing out to Barnsley last season. Morison scored the decisive goal with five minutes left on the stopwatch in order to send the Lions bounding into the Sky Bet Championship after a two-year spell outside the second tier.
The match began as expected, with multiple fouls being conceded in the opening few minutes, as either side battled to overcome their nerves and the occasion of playing at Wembley.
Bradford survived an early onslaught from Millwall as the London side almost converted from a mad scramble in the box, before having three consecutive corners at the National Stadium in the opening eleven minutes.
The Lions had a weak claim for a penalty turned away when Nadjim Abdou fell in the box, but it was unawarded.
Charlie Wyke came close for the Bantams towards the end of the half, but his header drifted agonisingly wide of the target for the West Yorkshire side.
The two sides respectfully applauded on 56 minutes to remember the 56 victims of the Valley Parade Fire.
And the Bantams came close again midway through the second half but Rory McArdle could not keep his header on-target as it flew narrowly over the bar.
The Lions increased their presence and pressure in the second half, being denied by McArdle’s dive in-front of a Morison strike before Shane Ferguson’s cross was headed over by Jed Wallace with nine minutes left.
But Millwall’s increased pressure eventually broke the deadlock as Morison latched onto Lee Gregory’s flick towards the back-post to send the Millwall fans into euphoria.
Bradford gave their all in order to try to level before the whistle but could only watch as Shaun Williams’ block denied Alex Jones’ low cross with two minutes to go.
And the Bantams could do no more as referee Nick Hopton blew-up and confirmed Millwall’s place in the Sky Bet Championship.
Bradford City: Doyle, Meredith, Law (Dieng 74), Vincelot, Marshall, Wyke, Clarke (Jones 74), Cullen, Knight-Percival, McArdle, McMahon. Unused Subs: Sattelmaier, Darby, Hiwula, Gilliead, Kilgallon.
Millwall: Archer, Hutchinson, Craig, Williams, Gregory (Butcher 90+1), Romeo, Wallace (Onyedinma 89), Webster, Morison, O’Brien (Ferguson 70), Abdou. Unused Subs: King, Cooper, Thompson, Worrall.
