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Rochdale win on penalties! Great stuff.

Not sure 10 pints at the match was adequate preparation. Youngen spanked me. 59 mins! 1:01 for me. Was tougher than the pissing marathon

I do have feelings, you know!

I actually thought Ethan had a good game considering he's been out for a while. I'm not his biggest fan but yesterday he did the job that needed doing. Him and Sheehan dominated that midfield.

Just been reading the comments through and you're the first to single out Forino. Our group of 6 had him hands down MOM by a mile. Yes Toal and Johnston were at their best (Tutu less so) but CF was not only a rock, winning all his duals in the air and on the ground, but outstanding in possession. I can't remember one occasion he did anything that I thought he could have improved. As near to a 10 out of 10 as I've seen from a Bolton player this season. SS didn't pick him for about 3 months.

Took me about 3hrs from getting in bed to actually going to sleep last night. Big game adrenaline at fault. After (finally) sleeping on it, I thought collectively that was our best performance for a while, every player to a man stood up and was counted and we were the better side for 80 minutes. I’ve probably been one of the most critical of GJ over the last few months but thought he was great last night. Rock solid, as were all the back 4 really. 2 goal lead would’ve been the ideal scenario but it’s definitely game on. They came here for a draw and still be in the tie and the onus is now on them to be more adventurous and with the quality we have in transition, we’ll score again so they need 3. Hope we go there with a similar level of positivity and intent without being silly but I think we’ll be ok

Absolutely fantastic!! Their equaliser was quite early compared to previous games, just the 97th minute. So pleased for them, absolutely deserve it.

I'm glad I didn't watch this game

Has anyone mentioned the ‘you’re not fit to referee chant’ ? Good work.

Cissoko was a bit hit and miss last night but they were so wary of him that we likely wouldn't have scored if he wasn't playing He dragged so many of theirs towards him that when he hit it across their penalty area for our goal, ACD had so much time and to take his shot

The gulf in class between us and them is massive. We're just better in every department. When we are on point we are unstoppable. A poacher away from winning the league. Thursday will be a different kettle of fish all together. We need to keep our bollocks.

Well he ain’t spent any of it to enable surgeries in Clacton.

Always keep hold of yer pie!

He should at least, be able to claim back the VAT on the ladyboys

No problem with that… I certainly didn’t see it that way. E.E. Was excellent….and Simon’s only came on after 71 minutes and I didn’t even notice anything he did.

After all the furore over a rent permit and stamp duty by two labour members, its strange that there is zero anger over a £5m undisclosed bung paid to the Reform leader which should have been disclosed. He's as bent as a nine bob note and you all know it but can't admit it.

First game back after an injury. Missing strikers, no Dempsey. Team did pretty well, without being spectacular. A nervy occasion, and everyone contributed, against a hard working, well drilled opponent. He did OK.

Strange we saw it so different. I thought it was the most intense half I've seen this season. Only bettered by the intensity of the 2nd half! Every single ball challenged for with intent and purpose, not an inch given, every player closed down the second they got the ball. The only breaks were when they tried to slow it down - as you say that was negative from them (30 seconds for every throw in or dead ball) but that's a normal tactic for an away team. The first time I took a breath was when the ref blew his half time whistle, couldn't relax for a second.

I hope those who were highlighting Erhahon’s weaknesses and downplaying him having a role to play in these play-offs, will give him a lot of credit for his contribution yesterday. And also acknowledge what he brings to our side; balance on the left, a good link and support to Johnston and Cissoko on that side and a calmness and protection in front of the back 4. Like many others, the only change I would make is Dalby for Burstow.

Oh, sit down!

Really solid home first leg performance. Taking a lead into the second and importantly a clean sheet / limiting them to so few chances was exactly what we were after. 1-0 is obviously slender - if the second goes in then it’s the perfect result and performance but we were just unlucky, he couldn’t have done anything else. There was a Bradford fan on the phone heading back to the train saying that he’s more than happy with the result because he just didn’t want it to be 4-0 - I think that shows both what they think of us, but also that this is far from over, they’re happy with just a 1 goal deficit to turn over at home. I’d agree with the assessments of all the players so far but would just add that Forino was once again top class - he’s a proper defender (and will need to be as good on Thursday). Like others have said, score first on Thursday and I think it’s done. They’re nowhere near as good as us but they’ve shown all season that they will find a way to be competitive. Sticking by my prediction that ACD is the difference and he’ll score again on Thursday. Up the whites, these next 4 days are going to drag!

Thought Sheehan was absolutely brilliant tonight

And there's me thinking that 'pensions are not a benefit' would be the most ridiculous thing I'd read today. Never had anything given to you? Your generation were able to buy property on 3x an average salary. Today it's nearer 9x. You had the state building houses left right and centre, while today, the only properties being built are skyscrapers for Russian and Saudi nationals to "invest in" and never visit. Your generation were able to buy their council houses for a song, and sell them at ballooned profit. Your generation enjoyed free higher education, while today the average student debt is around £50k. You might say, "I didn't need a degree, I went to the University of Life". Yep, because with unionised workforces actually manufacturing things in this country before Thatcher's axe, your generation enjoyed good jobs, for life, just by scraping a couple of O Levels. Today, any job paying above pot washing or glass collecting (and having done both, I am not knocking either) expects further qualifications to even get past the first sift. I wouldn't dispute that you have worked hard for what you have, but your suggestion that those younger than you have a "sheltered life" is plain fucking ignorant. The ability to check your own privilege is seemingly a concept beyond so many of your age group. With such a closed world view, I'm really not surprised you and so many myopic others within your privileged, selfish generation are falling for Farage's lies. Have a lovely day, and enjoy the match later.

Forino is class. Proper no nonsense centreback gets in the way of everything.

Folk might remember my handle on here being 'of Rochdale' once upon a time. Grew up in the area, lived there most of my life, watched them many times over decades. While Wanderers were always and will always be my no 1, I've the softest of soft spots for them. They've been through a tough few years, hopefully this is the start of a better chapter for them.

I think part of the reason the concourses were so packed was that it was so cold. I saw quite a few dressed for May, when we got a March (and earlier) temperature. People stayed down on the concourse until kick off, and a lot went down at half time, simply to warm up! 23k (it wasn’t just 22k) felt about right.

Saw this and thought it was interesting

As I always will, I’ll concede if I think I’ve been shown to be wrong, I’ll hold my hands up on this one. An over-reaction to the anomaly of witnessing one crowd as 22,700 be more than one announced as 25,000. I still think it’s hard to see 6,000 spare seats last night, but I can understand the odd ones mount up.

It wouldn't have felt right if they didn't go up

There was a foul given against Dalby for basically not being knocked off the ball. For balance Sheehan was very lucky in the first half for a supposed non foul

I’m also noticing the Sheehan and Johnston haters are pretty quiet 😊 They had great games too.

I have to agree, I thought he had a decent game and considering he has been out for quite a while it was an excellent performance.

He's got the same number of goals (slightly fewer appearances, slightly more minutes) as our player of the season. One fewer than Burstow and more than everybody else in our squad. I doubt he'd start every week, but he wouldn't be out of his depth quality wise. And Bradford finished above us after 46 games so presumably someone there must be quite good.

My lad was clearly absolutely delighted with the win! 😄 I was watching on my phone using the ropey hotel WiFi.

You'll have dropped them if you have.

Naturally we are all focused on the process of the play offs and how this result leads us in the second leg and (god willing) beyond. Had this been a normal game I suspect more of us would have been welcoming an increasingly rare clean sheet and going ahead in a game without then conceding an equaliser (lost count of the amount of times that has happened since Christmas, especially at home). Kenny being absent is a big, big blow. However we have other attacking threat. As much as anything I think our fortunes rest upon the ability of our defence to concentrate and avoid dizzy moments and SS's ability to pick the right balance in midfield. We can emerge from Thursday night with a Wembley showdown in our sights... but Bradford have been a different proposition at home all season. Work to do.

It was telling that Schumacher instructed ACD to just stay out wide in the second half and with Ibby also staying out wide, the Bradford back line was more stretched, which led to us creating more chances. That for me, would be the ploy on Thursday. Bradford simply HAVE to come and try to score at least one. Time for us to do to them what others teams do to us and get that ball in behind the full back. Bradford can't score whilst defending.

The doubling up on Cissoko was a new one. Seeing him picked out as the danger man is quite a turn around from 3 weeks ago! It should really have meant there was space through the middle but Bradford sat back so much that it blocked everywhere. They won't be allowed to do that by their fans at home so there should either be space for the wingers or through the middle (can't double up everywhere) so we have to attack on Thursday

Real battling performance considering there wasn’t the easy route of hitting Dalby up top or sticking it in the channels for Kenny. Goal was up there with best limbs at the Reebok. Nam Ploy absolutely chocker pre match, we really do need a proper pub up there. EFL finance bods check the reporting so it absolutely will have been the correct crowd. Odd empty seats were all over the place and it soon mounts up.

Haha. It was a shit post and I own that. Of course I wanted us to win. Think I was trying to explain that Id be more nervous defending a lead instead of being behind with nothing to lose and I might have said I'd feel better which was a poor way to phrase it.

Thought you might be a bit disappointed we didn’t lose 🤣

That was tense but mainly cos Bonham is a car crash. Everyone was good, even Johnston but Forino is an absolute monster. How he didn't win POTY is beyond me LET'S DO THIS BOLTON CMOOOOOON

A post width from Wembley. Two might have been enough and it not going in changed the whole dynamic of that last 25 mins. Two down in 3 mins and they'd have been ship steadying mode for a while after. They were emboldened to come for us late on Badly missed Kenny’s pace and harassing. With him we'd have buried them. Forino's the best defender in the league on form this calendar year

Johnston gets a lot of shit, he was great tonight and clearly really fired up for it. The right attitude for the next two games.

Decent performance and result, sets Thursday up nicely. Bonham's not filling me with confidence last few games, but thought back four to a man were excellent.

Also, thought McAtee was excellent when he came on, exactly what we needed, chasing everything, putting pressure on the defenders.

It was quite a shout, that

Just back my thoughts… Lots of possession but 1 SOT shows we did not do a lot with it. Lots of solid performances all over the pitch. Ethan improved after his first three passes went a stray. First half every Bradford chance seemed to come from sloppy defending. ACD great finish but how important might hitting that post be ? Cissoko frustrating at times but they had 2 men on him all the time which blunted any potential attacks down our left. Terrible news about Kenny, any reason given why Dempsey was not on bench ? Bradford have to be better 2nd leg and show more attacking intent, think Pointon might be back and their late is recovering from injury but would them going forward if he starts. Got to go there with no fear, do not think SS is a manager that goes places to just hold so going to be a really nervous evening next week.

Home crowd were superb tonight but what is it about Yorkshire sides? Barnsley,Huddersfield and Bradford all bring plenty but make less noise than a few hundred Mansfield or Lincoln fans.

A win is the main thing. Obviously, we would have liked a more comfortable one, but I doubt many of us thought that that was likely. Clean sheet- maybe EE coming in did have an effect... Anyway, for anyone travelling, M6 has been shut southbound from j30/31. Roads may be very busy in the area.