Birmingham and Bradford reach EFL Trophy semi-finals

Jay Stansfield's 18th goal of the season was enough to send Birmingham through to the last four

Two-time winners Birmingham and League Two side Bradford City have booked their places in the semi-finals of the EFL Trophy with 1-0 away wins.

Birmingham, who lifted the trophy in the 1990-91 and 1994-95 seasons, beat Stevenage, while the Bantams knocked out 2021-22 winners Rotherham at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

Blues dominated their last-eight tie at the Lamex Stadium, but were denied by a string of saves from Taye Ashby-Hammond until Jay Stansfield ran on to Marc Leonard's through-ball to slot the winner with seven minutes left.

The result extends the League One leaders' unbeaten run to 18 matches in all competitions.

Bradford hit the winner against League One Rotherham just before the hour mark when Reece James brought down Brad Halliday and Richard Smallwood smashed the penalty into the roof of the net.

Elsewhere, League One promotion chasers Wrexham claimed an emphatic 4-1 win at League Two Port Vale in a rearranged last-16 tie to tee up a quarter-final with Bolton.

Peterborough host Cheltenham in the other quarter-final on Wednesday.