Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Bradford City: Amario Cozier-Duberry scores first-leg winner for Trotters in League One play-off semi-final
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet League One play-off semi-final first leg between Bolton Wanderers and Bradford City at the Toughsheet Community Stadium; Amario Cozier-Duberry scores brilliant second-half winner
Saturday 9 May 2026 22:32, UK
Amario Cozier-Duberry's brilliant strike was enough for Bolton to earn a 1-0 first-leg win over Bradford in their League One play-off semi-final.
The 20-year-old winger, on loan from Brighton, struck in the second half at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
It means the Trotters take a crucial advantage to Valley Parade.
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Cozier-Duberry breaks tension at the Toughsheet
Just like in all the play-off ties we'd seen so far, tension overwhelmed the most part of this first leg.
There were no shots on target in the first half and Billy Sharp sat unimpressed in the Sky Sports studio.
"No one wanted to take the game by the scruff of the neck," the EFL legend said at the break.
But the neck scruff was well and truly taken on the hour mark. Cozier- Duberry, so often the spark for Bolton, picked up an Ibrahim Cissoko cross before cutting onto his left and bending brilliantly into the far corner.
A couple of minutes later it should have been a second for the former Arsenal youngster. He raced through on goal after they won it back high up but his effort agonisingly hit the inside of the post before bouncing clear.
It could have been a truly defining moment in this tie but, with just a single goal separating them, it is all to play for in the second leg.
Schumacher: It was a brilliant finish
Bolton boss Steven Schumacher on Sky Sports Football:
"Amario has produced moments of magic like that for us all season.
"We said to him at half-time that he was coming inside a lot, and we asked him to be patient and we'd get the ball to him in dangerous areas.
"The ball fell to him a little bit fortuitously, but it was a brilliant finish.
"We're delighted [with the result]. It was a tight game as we expected it to be, really competitive.
"We knew how important it was to try and get ourselves ahead in the tie because we know how difficult it is going to Valley Parade."
Alexander feeling confident for second leg despite defeat
Bradford boss Graham Alexander on Sky Sports Football:
"It was a very strong performance from us considering we've come away from home to a Bolton side with a lot of firepower.
"They've had one shot on target tonight, although obviously it was a very good one! That's what split the teams.
"Regardless of how it went tonight it would still be half-time. We've found ourselves behind many times this season and we've come back to win or draw, so it's a scenario we've been in before.
"I don't have to remind the players of that. I can stay silent because there is a lot of experience in that dressing room and they're all saying the right things to each other.
"It'll be a tough game at Valley Parade, but it's one we're feeling confident for."
