Bradford City vs Millwall. Sky Bet League One.
University of Bradford StadiumAttendance19,241.
Sunday 15 May 2016 15:40, UK
Millwall took a 3-1 advantage in their Sky Bet League One play-off first-leg tie against Bradford with a storming first-half display at Valley Parade on Sunday.
All the goals came in the opening 45 minutes, and it was Bradford who initially broke the deadlock when Joe Martin handled in the box and Tony McMahon hit home the resulting penalty.
But the Lions got level just 90 seconds later thanks to Lee Gregory, before Steve Morison and Martin added to the tally before the break.
The Bantams dominated the second period, with Filipe Morais in particular squandering a golden chance, but couldn't capitalise to reduce the deficit ahead of Friday's second leg at The Den.
There was little to chose between the sides in the opening ten minutes before Martin's handball near the goal-line gifted Bradford a penalty.
McMahon stepped up and rifled home the spot kick as Valley Parade went wild, but not before he went into the referee's book for a push in the face on Chris Taylor.
But Millwall hit back less than two minutes later, as Morison headed the ball into the path of Gregory, who hit on the turn in the middle of a packed box to fire past Ben Williams and shook off an injury not long after to continue his fine form for the Lions.
You felt another goal was coming in a goal-filled first period, but it could have been from either side as Morais fired a shot wide of the post before Morison twice went close with the second a lovely curling effort that just evaded the top corner.
But he got his reward with ten minutes of the half to play, as Shane Ferguson whipped in a corner that found the head of the striker after he lost his maker and powered the ball into the back of the net.
Millwall weren't done though as they added a third on the stroke of half-time, and it was a sublime free kick from Martin who atoned for his earlier handball as he curled the ball into the top corner and despite Williams going the same way, he was never keeping it from the back of the net.
Bradford came racing out of the traps in the second half to try and get back into the tie, and should have been level after 10 minutes as Morais fired a golden chance past the post from six yards with an empty net in front of him after some great work from Jamie Proctor to keep the ball in play.
The Bantams kept pressing though as McMahon smashed an effort into the side of the net after a lovely cross from Reid before a huge penalty shout went begging after Mark Beevers clipped Proctor in the box, but the referee waved away the claims.
The hosts continued to dominate proceedings throughout the second period and called goalkeeper Jordan Archer into action on a few occasions, the closest being a Nathan Clarke header that forced the Millwall stopper to tip the ball over the bar.
It was Lee Evans who could have grabbed another goal for Bradford in the closing stages, hitting a storming free-kick just past the post before another effort on the edge of the box also heading over the crossbar as the Lions saw out the game to claim the advantage.
