news-engine

Nothing could split the two teams in 90 minutes with Burnley edging the chances throughout, although their League One opponents proved challenging opposition. The Clarets have struggled to adjust back to life in the second-tier having failed to register three points, while Bradford City are using their play-off semi-final defeat as fuel to go one better this term. After Jon McCracken denied Jacob Bruun Larsen, the hosts paved the way to the third round which they sealed when Adam Phillips fired into the corner. Story of the match Both sides harbour ambitions of promotion from their respective divisions this term and a deep run in this competition represents an excellent opportunity to build momentum towards that aim. It was a packed-out Valley Parade with a proper cup-tie feel, a stark contrast from plenty of the other second round ties which have failed to generate a similar atmosphere. Both managers opted to shake the pack with Burnley fielding three debutants while the hosts made five alterations from their narrow 1-0 victory at Sheffield Wednesday. Nicky Hayen would have been left encouraged by his side’s fast start, a far cry from a lacklustre display at West Brom, and Josh Laurent had the first opening inside four minutes as his strike was deflected away following Lucas Pires’ delivery. They continued to show their Championship class and the Bantams had McCracken to thank ten minutes later to keep the score level. Armando Broja used his strength to hold off Macaulay Gillesphey and the Albanian striker put the ball on a plate for Connor Roberts on the edge of the box but McCracken stretched every sinew to keep out his effort. Clarets in driving seat After Gillesphey struggled to sort his feet out in the box from Adam Phillips’ delivery, Burnley continued to apply the pressure and the magic of Zeki Amdouni nearly paid dividends just before the half-hour mark. The Swiss international displayed eloquence to dance around the Bradford defence, but Kayden Jackson deflected his goal-bound effort away. Despite hardly venturing into the visitors half, Bradford carried an equally threatful attacking impetus and Phillips came inches away from drawing first blood unconventionally, choosing to take aim with a driven strike from his corner which clipped the post. The 28-year-old was on a mission to haunt his former employers and came close to turning in Jake Beesley’s whipped cross, only to turn over from point-blank range. It was the Clarets who began the second period much as they had ended the first, in full control. Mike Tresor was in from the start for the first time since 2023 due to being curtailed by injuries and the Frenchman won back possession, only to see his effort met by a vital sliding challenge from Matthew Pennington. However, Graham Alexander’s side knew the longer they could frustrate the recently-relegated Premier League outfit, the greater their chances of finding the breakthrough. They enjoyed a period of sustained dominance from the hour-mark as Phillips continued to be at the heart of their attacking play. He was influential in closing down Gregoire Coudert but Will Swan’s strike failed to test the French shot-stopper, before Phillips nearly capitalised on a loose pass from distance as Coudert pushed his header wide. Changes were aplenty for both sides as they continued in their quest for the opener with Burnley’s attacking quality threatening to provide the decisive edge. Broja was slipped in with a defence-splitting pass from Laurent, a chance the ex-Chelsea man had been craving all night, but he dragged his effort wide of the mark. The quadruple attacking change from Hayen with ten minutes remaining signalled their intent to further push on for the winner and it was one of his alterations which nearly made an immediate impact. Marcus Edwards was the recipient of a well-worked corner routine, only for the forward to see his strike fly over. Shootout drama Both sides crafted opportunities to draw first blood in additional time, Welch angling his header over the bar while Laurent was denied by an excellent stop from McCracken, to ensure the tie would be settled via a penalty shootout. Shooting towards The Kop didn’t faze Zian Flemming who calmly dispatched into the corner before Antoni Sarcevic fired into the top corner. After Amdouni’s strike clipped the post with a slow, stuttered run-up, Gillesphey sent Coudert the wrong way to give the Bantams the advantage. Huge pressure was placed on the shoulders of Bruun Larsen to notch but McCracken delivered with a vital intervention and Ibou Touray stepped up next to put his side 3-1 up. Although Edwards gave the visitors a lifeline with his composed finish, Phillips proved to be the hero to send Bradford into the third round for only the second time in ten years.