Bradford League One season defined in 12 games… from 4-0 rout over Rochdale to play-off final heartbreak at Wembley
We take a look back at the Bantam's solid season which ultimately ended in devastating defeat to Millwall
BRADFORD were keen to build on last season’s play-off semi-final defeat by going one better this season, and certainly enjoyed a strong campaign.
With only seven losses in the league all season, the Bantams boasted consistency as they hovered around the play-off places.
After a short spell with Rangers in 2015, Stuart McCall was given the Bradford top job in the summer after Phil Parkinson left for Bolton.
McCall, a fan favourite at Valley Parade, came through the youth system at the club before moving to Everton in 1988.
He then spent another four seasons at Bradford towards the end of his playing career.
With McCall in the dugout, let’s look back at the games that have defined the Bantams’ League One campaign:
1. Bradford 3-1 Coventry (August 20, 2016)
The Bantams started the season in fine form, winning three of their opening four games.
The pick of these was matchday four, which saw them notch three goals in nine second-half minutes to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign with a 3-1 win against Coventry at home.
Captain Tony McMahon was the hero of the day by hitting a brace that put Bradford up to third in the League One table.
2. Bradford 2-0 Shrewsbury (October 8, 2016)
Bradford’s unbeaten start to the season stretched to 12 games, when they beat managerless Shrewsbury 2-0.
Despite their awesome run, they were still behind table-toppers Scunthorpe, albeit by a single point.
Still, they were the only club in the country that remained unbeaten in all competitions.
3. Oxford 1-0 Bradford (October 15, 2016)
But that unbeaten run came to an abrupt end in their next match when they travelled to mid-table Oxford.
Billy Clarke missed a first-half penalty for the Bantams, which would prove costly in the closing moments of the game when the U’s Chris Maguire struck a brilliant free-kick from 23 yards out in stoppage time.
All good things must come to an end.
4. Bradford 4-0 Rochdale (November 12, 2016)
McCall’s charges moved back up to second in League One when they recorded their biggest win of the season against Rochdale.
Top goalscorer Clarke was instrumental in the clash, which came only days after a disappointing FA Cup defeat against Accrington.
5. Bradford 0-0 Scunthorpe (December 26, 2016)
The Boxing Day clash against promotion rivals Scunthorpe meant Valley Park enjoyed the biggest attendance of the season, but the game was a bore draw.
Worryingly, the result saw the Bantams fall down the table into fifth place, having been as high as second barely a month previously.
6. Oldham 1-2 Bradford (January 28, 2017)
Having drawn every game they played in December, three wins in January meant Bradford were firmly in contention for a League One play-off spot.
Their narrow victory at struggling Oldham kept the pressure on Fleetwood and Bolton ahead of them, while they had a six point cushion to the club’s outside of the play-off places.
7. Fleetwood 2-1 Bradford (February 14, 2017)
Valentine’s Day saw the Bantams’ fifth defeat of the season against fellow promotion challengers Fleetwood, with ex-Bradford striker Devante Cole dealing the damage to his former club.
The result rang alarm bells around Valley Park, with McCall’s side now just two points away from play-off chasing Southend in seventh place.
8. Bradford 2-1 Swindon (March 18, 2017)
But that result was a distant memory only a month later, with McCall’s charges went on to enjoy seven games without a defeat.
Their win against Swindon in March saw the Bantams move up to fourth in the table and keep their hopes of a place in the automatic promotion places alive.
9. Sheffield United 3-0 Bradford (April 17, 2017)
In the final seven games of their League One season, Bradford continued their habit of losing away to promotion rivals.
Having lost to Fleetwood in February, they narrowly fell to Scunthorpe at the end of March.
They then suffered defeat to newly crowned league champions Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
10. Bradford 3-0 AFC Wimbledon (April 22, 2017)
But they needn’t worried.
A solid performance in their next game against AFC Wimbledon ensured their place in the play-offs, with Mark Marshall’s fine solo goal coupled with a McMahon brace ensuring City preserved their unbeaten league record at Valley Parade.
11. Fleetwood 0-0 Bradford (agg 0-1) (May 7, 2016)
Bradford booked their place in the play-off final at Wembley with a fine display against season-long foes Fleetwood over two legs.
A powerful header from McMahon in the second-half was enough to give the Bantam’s a slender lead in the first leg, while an incredible defensive display by centre-backs Rory McArdle and Nathaniel Knight-Percival in the second-leg was enough to steer them home to the final.
12. Bradford 0-1 Millwall (May 20, 2016)
Close, but no cigar.
Stuart McCall’s side had the better of the first-half in the Wembley showpiece, with Billy Clarke denied by a brilliant save from Millwall’s ‘keeper Jordan Archer.
But veteran Lions striker Steve Morison was the difference in the end, striking late in the second-half to spell heartbreak for the Bradford faithful.
Having made it to the play-off semi-finals last season, the Bantam’s are clearly progressing in the direction.
Coming back even stronger next season with be imperative.