To the neutral watching Sunday’s League Two semi-final clash at Valley Parade, Carlisle United were much the better footballing side.
But Bradford City, rugged and uncompromising, took their one real chance to go to Brunton Park with a one goal lead.
The beauty of football is that there are more ways than one to play it, and teams that produce the more eye-catching, attractive football don’t always win.
It’s not the Eurovision Song Contest with a judging panel – Bradford City nil points!
Manager Paul Simpson is optimistic that his way can prevail and says: “I know we’ve given them a goal start but if we can play the same way as we did for the majority of this game, keep creating chances, then I really think we have players who can score.
“I thought we produced some really good football. I thought the fitness levels looked outstanding.
“We kept going to the end, and the chances we created were really good chances. I thought some of Owen Moxon’s deliveries from set plays were outstanding. I still don’t know how we didn’t score off some of them.
“What we’ve done is show that we’re a good side. We’ve shown that we can compete with the teams at the top of the table in this game and now we’ll need to do it again.”
Looking ahead to Saturday afternoon he added: “It’s theirs to lose now, isn’t it? It’s ours to win and it’s theirs to lose.
“So, it’s how do they go about it. I know what we have to do, we have to win the game. It’s up to them how they do it. We need to play to the same level as the first leg and I know we’ve got the energy, the legs and the firepower we need to bring to the party on Saturday.
“We’ve had quite a few games where we haven’t created enough, but on Sunday we’ve created more than enough to go and win the game.
“It hasn’t happened, so hopefully we’re saving it for the week-end and we’ve got to play with the same energy, the same desire, the same commitment. The same composure on the ball and if we do that at home, I think we’ve got a hell of a chance.
“We have to win the game and win it by two goals, whether that be in 90, whether that be in 120, whether or not we take it to penalties, we have to find a way.”
