Bradford secured their spot in the League One play-offs with a convincing 2-1 victory at Exeter, a result that sealed Exeter's relegation to League Two. The win sets up a two-legged semi-final against Bolton for Bradford, courtesy of goals from Kayden Jackson and Antoni Sarcevic.
For Exeter, the loss marked a disappointing end to their four-year tenure in the third tier, as they underperformed in a crucial must-win game. A win would have ensured their safety, given Leyton Orient's draw at home to Burton. Bradford dominated the game from the start, creating multiple scoring opportunities. Their persistence paid off after 27 minutes when Jackson, in his 450th appearance for the club, scored following a pass from George Lapslie, slotting the ball past Jack Bycroft from 18 yards.
Exeter made a double substitution at halftime and showed improvement, with Carlos Mendes Gomes testing Sam Walker, but their fate was sealed after 80 minutes. A poor back header by Jack McMillan allowed Sarcevic to tap the ball beyond Bycroft, securing Bradford's win. Josh Magennis scored a consolation goal in stoppage time, but it was too late for Exeter.
The play-off semi-final schedule has been set, with Bradford facing Bolton and Stevenage taking on Stockport. Exeter manager Matt Taylor reflected on the loss, stating, 'It was not the result we wanted, and not the performance we needed. We were short in many areas, and it showed in our output and performance with the ball.
The first half was particularly disappointing, and the pressure of the situation may have contributed to our poor display.'