Written by Jason McKeown (images by John Dewhirst)

The nerves certainly jangled, but when it mattered most Bradford City found their composure – pushing a promotion rival away, stepping back from the ledge and edging closer to confirming a play-off place.

For so much of the evening, they were forced to confront their worst fears: they couldn’t really blow this, could they? As a confident, vibrant Plymouth Argyle side took an early lead, and news filtered through that Luton and Stevenage were winning, the unthinkable suddenly felt very real.

City’s nine-point advantage at Easter was set to shrink to just three. The chasing pack were snapping at their heels. The Bantams looked increasingly vulnerable.

That’s what made the response – and eventually the equaliser – so impressive. The walls were threatening to cave in. The alarm bells were ringing. Then Stephen Humphrys picked up the ball out wide, glided past three defenders and drove a low shot at goal. Conor Hazard could only palm it into the path of Will Swan, who took a touch and calmly smashed it into the net. Cue huge celebrations of relief. And possibly the biggest goal of City’s season so far.

It means the gap has only shrunk from six points to five, instead of three. They remain in the same position as before – just one more win will seal it. Crucially, time is running out for anyone to overhaul City. The finishing line is in sight. It would take something extraordinary for others to overtake them.

That’s why this point should be lauded. City were not at their best. Plymouth oozed a confidence and assurance that, right now, is lacking in the Bantams’ armoury. But the resilience they showed was admirable. Who knows what they can achieve if they do make the play-offs. But when a team shows character like this, they will always have a chance.

Here, they needed it.

Fair to say their conviction levels were not especially high early on. Just like at Oakwell on Saturday, early events dictated the pattern and, ultimately, the outcome. Minute eight at Barnsley brought a red card; minute eight here brought a Plymouth goal. And just like against Barnsley, and the week before against Stevenage, a set piece was City’s undoing. Ronan Curtis swung over a corner, Lorent Tolaj flicked it on, and Brendan Wiredu got ahead of Curtis Tilt to volley home.

It was punishment for a slow start. For mistakes in possession, uncertain clearances, and a tweaked system that didn’t quite work. Argyle had to win this and began front-footed. City did have the ball in the back of the net early doors when Max Power took a free kick quickly, Kayden Jackson crossed, and George Lapslie tapped home. But the flag went up against Lapslie.

That moment aside, City were initially on the backfoot and punished for it. Argyle – backed by an impressive 700 supporters making a 650-mile round trip on a Tuesday night – sensed blood and could have made it 2-0. Perhaps though, when they come to analyse what went wrong, they’ll conclude the goal was not as helpful for them as it seemed at the time. That they scored too early.

Because as the game wore on, Plymouth swagger turned to scarcity, as they became mindful of keeping the prize they were clutching. When for 25 minutes they had attacked with pace, they began to slow the game down. When City did equalise, Argyle found it difficult to shift back into attacking mode.

By then, City had found some value from going with a 3-4-1-2 formation instead of the usual 3-4-3, before going with something very different. We’ll get to that. First the 3-4-1-2 approach that saw Lapslie play centrally as a number 10 behind a front two of Humphrys and Jackson. It was an approach necessitated by Antoni Sarcevic joining Bobby Pointon and Tyreik Wright on the sidelines. With Humphrys and Jackson not faring brilliantly in the 3-4-3 on Saturday, Graham Alexander went narrower and will judge it a partial success.

The high point was certainly Lapslie. The forgotten man of Valley Parade has suddenly played himself into a big player for the run-in. This was his best game of a disappointing season by a long, long way. Lapslie thrived in the hole by producing moments of quality in tight spots. He was also really effective at winning duels and turnovers, helping City to attack.

But as ever it seems with Lapslie, it’s bittersweet.

While the role suited him, the overall structure did not fully click. Humphrys and Jackson struggled to influence the game centrally, while Power and Jenson Metcalfe were often isolated. Too much responsibility fell on centre-backs Aden Baldwin and Tilt to carry the ball forward. The wing backs Josh Neufville and Ibou Touray had space but no one near enough to link up to. The team as a whole suffered – except for Lapslie.

And because Argyle retreated and sat back on their lead, the congestion grew. Lapslie relished this opportunity and deserves so much credit, but this 3-4-1-2 does not look the answer when playing against opponents prioritising keeping men behind the ball.

It all lead to a contest that was frantic, closely contested and hard-fought, but light on chances. Humphrys saw a header cleared off the line, which led to a counter-attack and a crucial Sam Walker save from Tolaj. The Swiss striker later wasted a golden opportunity, shooting from distance instead of playing in Aribim Pepple, who was left frustrated.

Gradually, City grew into the game. No one but Lapslie and Joe Wright was playing well, but they knocked on the door and had spells of strong pressure. Argyle were outstanding at the back, and largely benefited from a curious refereeing performance from Jamie O’Connor, who ignored a bunch of fouls in an attempt to let the game flow.

The pattern carried on in the second half, and a thick fog of tension filled the air. Tension that afflicted both teams, with so much at stake. Argyle made the next move by bringing on Caleb Watts to try and shore things up. Then Alexander – short of attacking options he trusts – made a bold switch. The 3-4-1-2 was consigned to the dustbin. Nick Powell and Will Swan came on for the disappointing Neufville and Metcalfe. And they went 4-2-4.

The 4-2-4 was crucial in three ways.

First, it pushed Baldwin to right back, which gave him lots of time on the ball to find his passing range. Secondly, it led to Lapslie dropping deeper to play alongside Power, making him less the main character but still useful. And finally, it allowed Humphrys and Jackson to go wider and hug the touchlines. A tactic that was key to the equaliser.

Because the attack where Swan scored began with Joe Wright – who really was superb at the back – winning possession and sending Jackson away. The January signing twisted and turned his full back and sent over a cross, from which Humphrys was denied by an Alex Mitchell clearance off the line. Power picked up the loose ball, fed Touray who fed Humphrys, and from there City’s number 11 produced some beautiful skill to outfox two markers and engineer space for the shot that Swan followed up on.

The Humphrys dilemma has been a non-stop narrative of the season. There’s no question that in the last two games, Humphrys had delivered two hugely important goal contributions from a wide position. But it remains an issue that City don’t typically play in a way that allows their forwards to ordinarily take up such wide spots.  

What’s really interesting is that – in successive games – City have been in a hole, Humphrys wasn’t playing well, and tactical changes were made that put him in a wider position. And from those tactical changes, Humprhys has delivered moments of real quality.

The debate goes on.

At 1-1, Argyle had to get on the front foot again but found that hard to do. It greatly helped that City kept their new bold 4-2-4 shape rather than retreating themselves. Plymouth could not commit as many players forward for fear of what City’s front four could do on the turnover.

It led to a slightly strange pattern of City being ultra attacking yet also time wasting to curb Plymouth momentum. It was only in stoppage time that they signalled they would hold what they had, with Matt Pennington coming on and Humphrys getting a deserved standing ovation as he went off.

All of it leaves City almost there. Plymouth still trail them by six points. And though Argyle’s final two fixtures are kinder, the Bantams need just one point from their games to definitely finish above them. Two more points will also mean Luton can’t catch City – and the Hatters’ still have to go Bolton on the final day.

Two points from the last nine isn’t the most sparkling form of City’s season. But, to their promotion rivals, the Bantams are a bit like that annoying kid at a birthday party, who during a game of pass the parcel just holds onto the package and waits for the music to stop, so they can rip open the prize. And after this, the music is about to stop.

City’s susceptibilities without Pointon, Wright and Sarcevic are there for all to see. But it may already be too late for anyone to catch them.

And with the spirit and character shown here in a tricky spot, they will be a tough opponent for anyone in the play-offs. Because here was another lesson that Bradford City are blessed by an inner steel and deep conviction. To be losing, to be staring at the abyss, and to find courage to come back is to their credit. They’ll be a stronger team for going through this.

The nerves are still there. The flaws remain. But so does the resilience – and that might just be enough to carry Bradford City all the way.

Categories: Match Reviews

Tags: 2025/26, BCAFC, League One, Plymouth Argyle