Joe Garner's down following a tussle with Bradford's Romoney Crichlow in midfield.

The Carlisle forward receives some treatment before play continues.

Ian Woodcock
BBC Sport at Valley Parade

That's a great finish and probably what Bradford's start has deserved.

The home fans are in full voice now.

He might not have got the goal or the assist, but no surprise to see Andy Cook was at the heart of things once more.

This would have been a stunning goal had it gone in.

Joe Garner looks to send an audacious strike in from the corner of the Bradford box which then smacks off the crossbar.

It wouldn't have been given had it have dipped a few inches lower, however, as he handled in the build-up.

Carlisle whip a free-kick into the Bradford box through Owen Moxon.

There's a scramble to get on the end of it but Bantams keeper Harry Lewis collects after Ben Barclay managed to head towards goal.

Image source, Rex Features

Carlisle boss Paul Simpson returned to the club last season with the Cumbrians second from bottom in League Two.

He's transformed them into play-off contenders this term as they look to return to League One for the first time since 2013-14.

Can his side find an early goal at Valley Parade to silence a vociferous Bradford crowd?

Ian Woodcock
BBC Sport at Valley Parade

Image source, PA Media

It's been a positive start from the home side and the Bantams' fans are roaring them on to try to get that early goal.

In Andy Cook, they have League Two's leading scorer this season and, predictably, the burly number nine looks bang up for this and is very much their focal point.

On the sidelines a burly striker from days gone by, Mark Hughes, is suited and booted in the home dugout and barking encouragement to his charges.

Andy Cook picks up possession just outside the Carlisle box.

The Bradford forward turns and strikes from distance but it's high and wide of the target.

This game is opening up now.

Corey Whelan is the first man to go into the book. The Carlisle defender sees yellow for a cynical challenge on Scott Banks.

Scott Banks whips in a speculative cross into the Carlisle box which is swiftly collected by keeper Tomas Holy.

He then launches the ball upfield straight towards the Bradford box as Bantams goalkeeper Harry Lewis collects.

Carlisle eventually press again and Alfie McCalmont goes to ground in the box, but the referee waves away the visitors' calls for a penalty.

There's a thumping atmosphere here tonight, as to be expected really.

Not much in the way of chances in these early stages as Bradford and Carlisle work each other out.

Image source, PA Media

Carlisle get us under way against Bradford at a packed Valley Parade.

Sunday night football, folks. It's the future.

Prior to kick-off at Valley Parade, there will be a minute's applause in memory of Bradford City academy manager Neil Matthews.

Matthews died following a battle with cancer at the age of 56.

BBC local radio

Unfortunately we cannot bring you live radio coverage of tonight's game on this page.

But if you're in either of the West Yorkshire or Cumbria areas, BBC local radio have you covered.

Tune in to your local station but if you're unable to, I'll still be providing you text updates on this page.

Ian Woodcock
BBC Sport at Valley Parade

This is the last of the play-off semi-final first leg games.

What have we had so far? Well, a bit of everything.

The ridiculous: Peterbrough battering Sheffield Wednesday 4-0 on Friday night despite having finished 19 points behind the Owls in the League One table.

The sublime: Amad Diallo's sumptuous curled strike in Sunderland's 2-1 victory over Luton at a buzzing Stadium of Light.

The... not so good: Coventry's 0-0 draw with Middlesbrough in the other Championship play-off semi-final first leg won't live long in the memory.

Tonight? It's a braver person than I to predict, but there's more than 22,000 fans in here and, fingers crossed, they're in for an entertaining night.

Image source, PA Media

Two changes for Carlisle as Joel Senior and Joe Garner come into their starting line-up.

Jack Robinson and Kristian Dennis make way.

Carlisle: Holy, Senior, Armer, Moxon, Huntington, Guy, Patrick, Whelan, Barclay, McCalmont, Garner.

Subs: Kelly, Gibson, Edmondson, Dennis, Charters, Harris, Robinson.

Bradford City are unchanged from the XI that started the 1-1 draw with champions Leyton Orient on Monday.

Bradford: Lewis, Halliday, Stubbs, Crichlow, Ridehalgh, Clayton, Gilliead, Smallwood, Banks, Walker, Cook.

Subs: Doyle, Platt, East, Osadebe, Pereira, Nevers, Derbyshire.

Ian Woodcock
BBC Sport at Valley Parade

Obviously it requires a team effort to reach the play-offs but both of these teams have been boosted by an outstanding performer across the campaign.

Bradford City striker Andy Cook claimed the golden boot for League Two with 28 goals, while he also pitched in with eight assists.

To put his efforts into context, of the 61 league goals the Bantams scored, over half were either scored by or set up by the big forward.

Carlisle's Owen Moxon hasn't been quite as integral to the Cumbrians in terms of numbers, but it's still been a superb showing from the summer signing from Annan.

The 25-year-old assisted 15 and scored six for Paul Simpson's men.

Which of those pair can have the biggest influence over this semi-final could go a long way to dictating who is at Wembley two weeks today.

Image source, Rex Features

Coventry City failed to register an effort on target at the CBS Arena as they were held to a goalless draw by Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off semi-final first leg earlier on Sunday.

Michael Carrick's Boro came closest to scoring when Chuba Akpom and Isaiah Jones brought first-half saves from keeper Ben Wilson.

Despite the Championship's two top scorers being on show - 29-goal Akpom and 21-goal Viktor Gyokeres - a drab game finished goalless.

You can catch up on the action here.

Image source, Getty Images

As I said earlier, tonight is the second League Two play-off semi-final first leg and, indeed, the final first leg of this year's EFL play-offs.

Salford City edged a first-leg win over injury-hit Stockport County last night at the Peninsula Stadium.

Matt Smith's scrappy goal gave the Ammies the advantage before the second leg at Edgeley Park.

This season is the first in which Salford have reached the play-offs since being promoted to League Two, while the Hatters are targeting a second successive promotion after winning the National League title in 2021-22.

You can read the report and catch up on last night's action here.