The winger produced the goods yet again when it mattered – curling a shot past Sam Walker on the hour to give Bolton a 1-0 lead heading into the second leg at Valley Parade on Thursday night.
On the balance of play and chances created, Steven Schumacher’s side will feel they deserved the win. But the game was not without its controversial moments – and both sides will feel refereeing decisions went against them on the night.
Wanderers had made two changes to the side that lost against Luton Town, with Ethan Erhahon returning in midfield and George Johnston on the left side of defence.
The chief absentee was a name that had been discussed for most of the week on social media. Rumours of Johnny Kenny’s knee injury had been present all week, and something the club had hoped to play down and keep quiet until the day itself.
Nevertheless, Mason Burstow moved into the Irishman’s place up front with Ruben Rodrigues pushed into the attacking line.
Early nerves in possession were summed up by Jordi Osei-Tutu’s loose pass just outside his own box eight minutes in, which provided Antoni Sarcevic with a first sight of goal. His shot was closed down impressively by Chris Forino, and from there Bolton started to find some footing.
Burstow had an effort blocked by Max Power in front of goal, Johnston lashed a half volley over the bar from the edge of the box and Amario Cozier-Duberry also had another goal-bound shot bounce off Ibou Touray to safety.
Some confidence began to seep back into Bolton’s build-up but they still struggled to open the visitors up completely, a scenario not uncommon at home games this season.
Bradford had stalled for time from early on, slowing things down whenever possible. But as the half wore on Wanderers started to string a bit more together in the opposing half.
Ibrahim Cissoko, who had let a few early passes stray out of his control, began to pull out the party tricks. The winger combined well with Erhahon on the left side of the box to put a low ball into the box which was turned just wide by Burstow.
Referee Martin Coy had been in charge of Bradford’s play-off victory against Fleetwood a year ago as they made their way to promotion, and his appointment had been seen in Bantams circles as somewhat of a lucky omen.
One wonders if opinions changed seven minutes before the break when a long ball over the top from Jenson Metcalfe isolated Josh Sheehan against Kayden Jackson, with the Bradford striker sent sprawling seconds later. In truth, there had been minimal contact made by the Bolton man – but it was nevertheless a bold decision in the circumstances to wave play on.
Moments into the second half referee Coy hobbled off with an injury, resulting in a lengthy stoppage at a time when Bradford were preparing to take a corner. The unseasonably chilly and windy conditions did little make fourth official David Rock hurry as he changed and swapped equipment on the touchline.
But it was Bolton who were nearly caught cold, reacting slowly at the corner and then failing to clear their lines as Sarcevic arrowed another shot just over the bar.
Moving at a glacial pace to take their set pieces, the Bantams were starting to win the psychological war as frustration started to crackle around the Toughsheet. But then another moment of genius from Cozier-Duberry set the tie in Bolton’s favour.
Cissoko’s cross from the left skipped across the penalty box, collected by the Brighton winger, who embarked on that familiar route, checking in on to his left foot, before burying his 10th goal of the season into the bottom corner.
Just a couple of minutes later he so nearly scored a second. Curtis Tilt’s pass was picked off, Cozier-Duberry set course for goal, and after beating Sam Walker with his shot, the whole stadium watched it bounce agonisingly off the inside of the post and out to safety.
Wanderers continued their search to land another significant blow. Rodrigues appealed for a penalty as he was sent tumbling by Tilt, Sheehan scuffing a shot wide in the aftermath.
Bradford then had a shout of their own at the other end. Rodrigues’s loose pass had given the visitors a chance to counter and Jackson got goal-side of Forino to run on to Tyreik Wright’s ball over the top. Had the striker stood strong, there may well have been a shooting chance, but he appeared to wait for contact and stand-in ref Rock was unmoved.
The ‘fifth’ official signalled nine additional minutes, thanks to all the refereeing shenanigans, and almost instantly there was a moment of panic at the back for Bolton as a free kick was flicked towards goal by Tilt – sub Xav Simons hooking the ball off the line before the linesman raised his flag for offside.
Rock waved away yet more appeals for a Bolton penalty in the 94th minute as McAtee went down on the edge of the box.
But that was it for the drama. Wanderers held on tight to their lead and will take it with them to West Yorkshire in five days’ time knowing any positive result will take them to Wembley.