Summary

  • First leg of the League One play-off semi-finals

  • Rory McArdle's late header gives Bantams advantage

  • FT: Bradford City 1-0 Fleetwood Town

  • FT: Millwall 0-0 Scunthorpe United

  1. That's all for tonightpublished at 22:10 British Summer Time 4 May 2017

    FT: Bradford 1-0 Fleetwood; Millwall 0-0 Scunthorpe

    Rory McArdleImage source, Rex Features

    Thanks for your company on this Thursday evening where the only EFL play-off goal of the night came from this man, Bradford's Rory McArdle.

    His second-half header gave the Bantams a deserved - but slender - 1-0 lead going into Sunday's second leg at Fleetwood, while Millwall and Scunthorpe's first leg was goalless.

    We'll see you at the weekend for the final round of League Two and Championship fixtures as well.

    Wherever you are, have a great evening. Good night.

  2. Read morepublished at 22:06 British Summer Time 4 May 2017

    FT: Millwall 0-0 Scunthorpe

    If you want to read more on Millwall's lacklustre draw at home to Scunthorpe, you can do so by clicking 'read more' in the link below.

    And Ian Woodcock's fine report from Valley Parade on the other of tonight's League One play-off semi-finals can be found here.

    Millwall 0-0 Scunthorpe United

    Millwall are held to a lacklustre draw at home in the first leg of their League One play-off semi-final by a determined Scunthorpe side.

    Read More
  3. Do you want some more?published at 22:03 British Summer Time 4 May 2017

    Coming up this weekend in the EFL

    Do be sure to join us again throughout this weekend, as there is so much in store.

    Here is a reminder of the rough schedule over a busy couple of days:

    • Saturday teatime - the final day in League Two.
    • Sunday lunchtime - the final day in the Championship.
    • Sunday evening - these League One play-off semi-finals continue...
  4. 'Millwall shaded it'published at 22:00 British Summer Time 4 May 2017

    FT: Millwall 0-0 Scunthorpe

    Millwall manager Neill Harris told Sky Sports:

    "I think we were the better team over the course of the 90 minutes. I thought we were excellent in the first half and we had everything other than a goal. The second half was more even.

    "We knew it was going to be blood and thunder and played at 100mph - these games always are.

    "I thought we shaded it but we couldn't get that breakthrough. It's all square going into the next game and I'm not disappointed with that."

  5. 90 minutes from Wembleypublished at 21:58 British Summer Time 4 May 2017

    Still to come - Sunday's second legs

    After tonight's fun and games, these four will do it all over again in less than three days' time.

    Both second legs will kick-off at 18:30 BST on Sunday. Do join us again for that.

    And the final, I hear you ask? Well, that's at Wembley at 15:00 on Saturday, 20 May.

  6. 'It wasn't a pretty game'published at 21:55 British Summer Time 4 May 2017

    FT: Millwall 0-0 Scunthorpe

    Millwall v ScunthorpeImage source, Getty Images

    Scunthorpe manager Graham Alexander tells Sky Sports:

    "We both know that nothing's done in the first leg. I thought both teams tried to win the game but it's also a case of not trying to lose the game as well.

    "It wasn't a pretty game but we had to come here determined to confront what they pushed upon us.

    "Milwall put us under pressure by putting balls in the box but we dealt with it very well. It was a solid team performance.

    "The game is not over have we have to be just as focused and determined in the second leg."

  7. Reaction at Valley Paradepublished at 21:53 British Summer Time 4 May 2017

    FT: Bradford 1-0 Fleetwood

    Bradford City boss Stuart McCall tells Sky Sports One:

    "To get the goal, which we deserved, was great. But it's only half-time.

    "It was a great corner, Rory attacked it well. All-in-all, I thought it was a really strong performance.

    "The lads kept going and believing and we nearly got a second. But we can't be greedy. The support was fantastic and we look forward to Sunday now."

  8. Only 'half-time'?published at 21:51 British Summer Time 4 May 2017

    FT: Bradford 1-0 Fleetwood

    If you were betting one of the managers would use the phrase "it is only half-time" tonight... Well, you're not going to be disappointed.

    Here's the Bradford boss, speaking to the media...

  9. Postpublished at 21:48 British Summer Time 4 May 2017

    FT: Bradford 1-0 Fleetwood

    Uwe RoslerImage source, Getty Images

    Well, Uwe Rosler's side are still in it. But he'll need to get his thinking cap on now ahead of a second leg that they will have to win to go through.

    They were up against a Bradford side tonight who haven't lost at home in the league all season, and you could see why.

  10. 'One lapse of concentration'published at 21:46 British Summer Time 4 May 2017

    FT: Bradford 1-0 Fleetwood

    Alan Wright
    Former Aston Villa and Fleetwood defender on BBC Radio Lancashire

    I thought the (Fleetwood defence) had been brilliant. They blocked everything and put their bodies on the line.

    But it only takes one person to slip, loose their concentration, lose their man and get something wrong...

    Eventually, Bradford were going to have a chance to hit the target and that's what happened.

  11. Reaction at Valley Paradepublished at 21:44 British Summer Time 4 May 2017

    FT: Bradford 1-0 Fleetwood

    Bradford's man of the match Josh Cullen tells Sky Sports One: "It's a (win) we should be proud of. We missed out last year so it means a lot to me and the lads.  

    "You can always say it could have been a bigger cushion but we'll give ourselves a chance of winning the game (at Fleetwood) as well."

  12. Reaction at Valley Paradepublished at 21:42 British Summer Time 4 May 2017

    FT: Bradford 1-0 Fleetwood

    Bradford goal scorer Rory McArdle tells Sky Sports One: "It is quite a quick turnaround and the gaffer will have the opportunity to change things around if he wants but all the lads will want to play and we'll go there aiming to get a positive result on Sunday."

  13. Postpublished at 21:40 British Summer Time 4 May 2017

    FT: Millwall 0-0 Scunthorpe

    Millwall were the attacking force, but only really had Lee Gregory's first-half shot to look back on as Scunthorpe defended admirably.

    The Iron will be by far the happiest, with home advantage in the second leg on Sunday.

  14. FULL-TIMEpublished at 21:39 British Summer Time 4 May 2017

    Millwall 0-0 Scunthorpe

    It's all over - fans are on the pitch, but I really don't know what there is to celebrate about that game...

  15. Postpublished at 21:38 British Summer Time 4 May 2017

    FT: Bradford 1-0 Fleetwood

    Bradford fans cheer after their deserved win, but should they have won by a bigger margin?

    Fleetwood trudge off disappointed, but perhaps relieved to still be in a tie which could yet go either way.

  16. Postpublished at 21:37 British Summer Time 4 May 2017

    Millwall 0-0 Scunthorpe

    The hosts are launching the ball into the Scunthorpe area but the Iron are sticking to their task.

    Millwall have a corner now though...

  17. FULL-TIMEpublished at 21:37 British Summer Time 4 May 2017

    Bradford 1-0 Fleetwood

    The referee brings this first leg to an end.

  18. Postpublished at 21:36 British Summer Time 4 May 2017

    Bradford 1-0 Fleetwood

    The clock is running down at Valley Parade and, in truth, Fleetwood have rarely looked like scoring.

    Are they content with being just the one goal behind?

    It will certainly be all to play for on Sunday.

  19. SUBSTITUTION (Scunthorpe)published at 21:34 British Summer Time 4 May 2017

    Millwall 0-0 Scunthorpe

    Will we be seeing Scunthorpe skipper Stephen Dawson in the return leg?

    Having been taken down by Tony Craig, Dawson comes off with what looks like a finger or wrist problem.

    With the second leg on Sunday, there isn't much time to recover - Sam Mantom replaces him here.

    We're into four minutes of stoppage time.

  20. Postpublished at 21:34 British Summer Time 4 May 2017

    Bradford 1-0 Fleetwood

    Fleetwood have never lost an EFL play-off match, winning two and drawing one of their three games en route to promotion to League One in 2014, beating Burton Albion 1-0 in the final at Wembley.

    I wonder what has happened to Burton since then, eh?

    Anyway, the Cod Army's unbeaten EFL play-off record is just three minutes of second-half stoppage time away from coming to an abrupt end.