Millwall vs Bradford City: League One Play-Off Preview & Prediction

Millwall boast an advantage heading into their League One play-off semi-final second leg against Bradford City on Friday night after the Lions roared to an impressive 3-1 victory at Valley Parade on Sunday.

Neil Harris’ side are firm favourites to reach the play-off final later this month at Wembley Stadium, with the victors set to face Barnsley after the Tykes swept past Walsall 6-1 on aggregate in the other semi-final match-up.

Millwall won promotion from League One via the play-offs back in 2009-10, and are looking to secure an immediate return to the Championship following their relegation this time last year.

Whereas Bradford are seeking their third successive play-off campaign in a row having won promotion via the process back in 1995-96 and 2012-13.

Having not played in the second tier of English football since 2004, that wait looks likely to continue ticking along following Phil Parkinson’s side heavy first-leg defeat at home last weekend, despite Tony McMahon (pen) firing the hosts ahead after 13 minutes.

But just moments later; Millwall’s top goalscorer Lee Gregory equalised for the visitors, before Steve Morison and Joe Martin cemented a comfortable two-goal advantage for the away outfit at the interval.

However history bodes well for the Bantams; because before this campaign, Bradford had lost their last two play-off semi-final first legs (both at home), but won the second leg, reached the final and gained promotion on both occasions.

Then again; the Lions are unbeaten in their last five matches against Bradford at The Den, winning the last four – with Parkinson’s men failing to find the back of the net in their last four league outings there.

As well as star strikers Gregory and Morison; Millwall possess an in-form goalkeeper in Jordan Archer, with Friday’s hosts only conceding one goal in their last eight League One encounters at home.

Harris’ Millwall finished just one point and place above Bradford in the 2015/16 League One standings – Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.

Team News:

Lions boss Harris will run a late fitness test on top goalscorer Gregory, who was substituted in Sunday’s first-leg.

However he is definitely without right-back Mahlon Romeo (suspended), whilst fellow defender Shaun Cummings is a long-term absentee.

Meanwhile opposing manager Parkinson faces a late worry over the availability of defender Reece Burke and forward Billy Clarke, although striker James Hanson has been ruled out with a calf injury.

League Position: Millwall – 4th (81pts); Bradford – 5th (80pts)
Previous Meeting: Bradford 1-3 Millwall – May 15, 2016
Form: Millwall – LWWWWW; Bradford – DLWWWL
Key Men: Millwall – Lee Gregory; Bradford – Jamie Proctor
Shoot Says: Millwall 2-1 Bradford