Leg 1: Bradford Over 6 Corners

Best odds of 11/5 at Paddy Power while publishing.

With Bradford heading into the second leg behind on aggregate, the onus will be firmly on the hosts to dictate play and apply pressure early. That attacking intent should translate into sustained spells in Bolton’s half and, consequently, a healthy corner count. Bradford average six corners per home game, but that figure is likely to rise in a must-win scenario. When the sides met at Valley Parade late in the season, Bolton conceded six corners, and a similar pattern of pressure could emerge again as Bradford chase the tie.

Leg 2: Jenson Metcalfe Over 1.5 Shots

Best odds of 6/5 at Skybet while publishing.

Bradford’s lack of attacking threat in the first leg, where they registered just three shots, should look very different on home soil. With greater possession and urgency expected, Jenson Metcalfe is well placed to benefit. He averages 2.46 shots per 90 minutes at Valley Parade in league action and has recorded at least two efforts in ten home starts. His tendency to occupy space on the edge of the box, particularly during set-piece situations, should see him presented with shooting opportunities as Bradford push bodies forward.

Leg 3: Over 4 Cards

Best odds of 10/11 at Skybet while publishing.

Play-off second legs rarely lack intensity, and this contest looks no exception. Referee Thomas Kirk averages 4.5 cards per match, which already points towards a busy evening in his notebook. Bradford are among the most frequently booked sides in the league averaging 2.28 per game, while Bolton also average 1.65 cautions per game. They also average 4.26 cards drawn between them, with plenty of high fouler spread across the pitch.

Both recent Championship second-leg play-off ties produced five or more cards, and with tension high and the stakes enormous, a similar disciplinary pattern is expected in Yorkshire.

Leg 4: Josh Sheehan To Be Booked

Best odds of 11/4 at Skybet while publishing.

The midfield battle could prove decisive, and Josh Sheehan may find himself under pressure throughout. He averages 0.33 cards per 90 minutes and commits over a foul per game, numbers that could be tested against Metcalfe, who wins 1.57 fouls per 90, including three in the first leg.

Bradford’s opponents in central midfield have also struggled to stay on the right side of the referee this season, with 32 players in that role booked against them in the league.

Leg 5: Max Power To Be Booked

Best odds of 5/2 at Skybet while publishing.

On the opposite side, Max Power is no stranger to the physical demands of high-stakes fixtures. Known for wearing his heart on his sleeve, Power averages 0.33 yellow cards and just over a foul per 90 minutes. Against a Bolton midfield adept at drawing contact, Power should have his work cut out. 28 opposition centre midfielders have been carded against Bolton in the league this campaign.

The best odds for the above Bet Builder is 130/1 at Skybet at the time of publishing. As low as 111/1 elsewhere.