League One play-off semi: Bradford vs Millwall – reactions

Bradford City had taken four points from Millwall over the course of this season in League One.

From two games against the Lions it was three points but only one goal that gave City bragging rights as this match beckoned.

Both teams had performed almost identically with only a point separating the pair of them at the end of 46 hard-fought games. But, as anyone associated with football will tell you, numbers, patterns, statistics and form can largely be disregarded and all that matters is the scoreline at the end of the game which was 3-1 to Millwall after today’s first leg of the League One Play-off Semi-Final.

It all started so well for Bradford, spurred on by a huge crowd of 19,241 including 1,828 from Millwall. Tony McMahon fired the Bantams ahead (13′) from the penalty spot after Millwall’s Joe Martin had handled inside the box. Their lead lasted a brief two minutes when Lee Gregory (15′) equalised after Steve Morison nodded a deep free kick into the danger area, former Halifax Town man Gregory scoring his 26th goal of the season across all competitions.

Morison turned from provider to scorer knocking in a bullet header (34′) to give the Lions the lead as they turned the screw on Bradford. It went from bad to worse as the half time break approached with Millwall getting a third when Joe Martin atoned for his earlier hand-ball mistake with an exquisitely struck free kick.

The Bantams, stung by being 3-1 behind came out snarling in the second half, one in which they enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and where they created numerous chances through the likes of Filipe Morais who fired wide from six yards when set up by Jamie Proctor.

Bradford continued to pour forward, with Proctor seeing a penalty appeal turned down after a Mark Beevers trip and Nathan Clarke twice threatening from corners. Wit htime running out, Phil Parkinso’s charges had one last hurrah but Lee Evans’ curling effort from the edge of the box was agonisingly just wide.

Truth be told, even though City had 61% of possession, the damage was done in the first half; the 3-1 margin of victory putting visitors Millwall in the driving seat for the return fixture next Friday at what will be a vociferous New Den.

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