One foot on the Wembley turf

Yes, I am happier playing Bradford than Cheltenham or Northampton to be quite honest. Cheltenham are a good footballing side, very good. Northampton are a big physical side and quite direct in the Boothroyd style.

You are the 3rd best side in the play offs to my mind EB. Probably the 2nd best footballing side - but Northampton have that style that wins games.

You have showed your calibre with your cup run. You are a good side - of that there is no doubt. You have also handled the big occasion this season.

In that game last week I can only assume it was an off day for you. You were poor that day. Nerves possibly? You didn't create much and won 1-0 playing against 10 men for ½ of the game.

I expect a totally different game from you on Thursday.

Everything is just a bonus for us from this point on.

Just been researching the recent history of league two play-offs and it's far from one foot on the Wembley turf!

The side finishing fourth has failed to reach the final in each of the last four seasons and only Shrewsbury, two years ago, have followed up 4th with an improvement, going up as runners-up last year.

Ironically, the last 4th placed side to win the play-final was five years ago when Stockport County won promotion, but look at them now.

The previous five years (2003-2007) were much better with MK Dons following up fourth with the championship, Grimsby making the final, and Southend, Huddersfield and Bournemouth all reaching League One.

All about who turns up on the day / night, I reckon. Everything still to play for. Bring it on.

Interesting Edinburgh Bantam, and your comments throughout the season with us on this messageboard have been very thoughtful and sparked debate! Bradford making the play offs has been a remarkable achievement from where you were in the League a couple of months ago.

I believe Bradford will be ecstatic that they have little Burton in the play offs, the same as I think Northampton and Cheltenham would have wanted to play us as well. I am happy that we have Bradford as I would not like to play you in the final because in a one off a massive game I believe you would probably turn us over.

Over two legs we have a great opportunity imho, if we can contain you as we did a couple of weeks ago and then you have to come to the Pirelli where we have the best home record in the whole of the Football League!

Thursdays result is paramount but what a roller coaster!!

Derby

Bradford fans are ecstatic that we have reached the play offs and respect all the teams that finished higher than us.
Apart from Evans at Rotherham other leading managers in this division accept that, on any one day, there is little difference between top and bottom teams.

We are fortunate that Phil Parkinson has assembled a tight squad of players and only brought in loanees to cover for injured first choices. After the Cup Final they returned to their parent clubs.

Zola seems to have a knack of scoring against City so Davies' unnecessary sending off means our central defenders will have to be extra vigilant in the first leg.

Unless the Bradford City board has a rethink you may witness the bizarre sight of fans leaving the stadium part way through the second half irrespective of the score. The 8000 season ticketholders have been told to queue up after Thursday's match for the 1700 second leg tickets which will go on sale at 10.30pm!!!

Whatever happens I'm looking forward to reading Brewer fans' comments on here. Isn't it a pity that there are no other 4th division posters on JA 606.

Edinburgh Bantam , i notice your club has now seen sence and your tickets for our home game are on sale on saturday.
Just wondered if you will sell out for your home tie as we seem to be able to pay on the night .Bit worrying that especially if your all ticket and were not.
Recipe for trouble it that happens.
Hopefully we will have a larger than normal following for probably the biggest game in our history.
As some have said after last season being in the playoffs is a massive bonus for us.
If Wembley happens so be it.

8,000 season ticket holders. Wow ! Incredible. In league 2 that's impressive.

As you say Pez, a recipe for disaster there if ever I saw one.

If I couldn't get a ticket, I would go in the away end. We would all do that wouldn't we.

Other than the violence aspect, I suppose there is another factor. If Bantams fans can't get in the home end and opt for the away end, presumably there is the possibility that we might turn up and not get in ourselves.

I read that the ground has a capacity of 25,136. Does that mean we are likely to be ok or not? Tough call that. Would a rough guess be that double the normal attendance is likely to turn up for this big game?

I am delighted that the City directors have listened to our supporters and changed the arrangements for buying tickets for the Pirelli. I reckon the Valley Parade attendance will be around 15000, depending how many you bring.

It seems odd that your home leg is not all ticket in view of the number of City fans who will want to be there. I hope ticketless away fans don't turn up on Sunday because that would be a stewarding nightmare.

Edinburgh, is it possible that the away allocation can be increased beyond 1800. With it not being all-ticket the clubs have no way of assessing it.

Sunday is all ticket with preference for fans with a stub from the Gillingham game. I guess that if ticketless fans turn up from either team, as there will be no sales on the day, they won't get in.

Frank

The away allocation will not be increased beyond 1800.Presumably if Burton had advised that more wanted to come to Valley Parade I'm sure it would have been all ticket for you and the small stand behind the goal ( T L Dallas) given to Brewers fans.