Head Coach Steven Schumacher is excited for Wanderers’ Sky Bet League One Play-Off semi-final first-leg against Bradford City at the Toughsheet Community Stadium on Saturday night and he expects a “really good challenge.”
The Whites face a two-legged clash against Graham Alexander’s Bantams. The return leg is on Thursday night at Valley Parade, with the reward a trip to Wembley on Sunday 24th May.
Wanderers will go head-to-head with Bradford for a fourth time this season in front of another huge crowd and Schumacher has challenged his side to perform to the levels that they can.
Schumacher told Wanderers TV: “We’re all really excited, I know I am and I’m sure the players are. It’s a really good challenge for us, it’s a good test and it’s something that we’re looking forward to. We know we’re coming up against a team who we’ve had three good games against this season, so I’m sure it will be no different this weekend.
“There’s going to be close to 25,000 here which is brilliant, the atmosphere will be excellent, the game will be tight I’m sure because that’s what the rest of the games against them have been like this season, and we have to make sure that we play well and perform as well as we can do to get the result that we want.
“It’s a two-legged tie and we have to be mindful, but what I’ll be saying to the players is to be positive and try and get on the front foot and take the game to Bradford where we can, get ourselves in front and go to Valley Parade in the tie and ready to have an opportunity to progress. I would have been saying exactly the same thing if we had been away first, make sure you’re in the game at half-time.
“We’ve worked really hard all season to be in this position and we wanted to be in with an opportunity to get to the Championship, whether that was going to be automatic or through the play-offs, that’s where we find ourselves so everybody should be excited about it. It’s going to be an intense couple of weeks and if we get our preparation right and if we perform as well as we can, the objective to get to the Championship is still there, so it’s a real incentive to go for.”
“We need to keep things consistent, to stay calm and stay focused, and to try and perform to our best because if you can do that and stay clear-minded, you’re in with a chance of getting the result that you need.
“We know what Bradford do, they try and put you under pressure and if you make rash decisions, they can punish you, so that will be it, to stick together as a team and remain calm and composed, there will be moments in Play-Off games where you will face adversity, and that’s where we need the crowd to help, especially when it’s going to be here with 25,000 in, to really get behind the team.
Schumacher believes that the Wanderers supporters can play an important part from the stands, with a bumper crowd set to be in attendance.
He added: “The attendances and support we’ve had all season has been excellent, so we need that to continue.
“The atmosphere will be important, we want to try and get on the front foot and make it a difficult place for Bradford to come and play, so the supporters will play their part like they have done all year, then it’s over to the players to produce the moments that we need.
Limited tickets remain available for Saturday’s game. Secure your seat and cheer on the lads in the first-leg by clicking here.
Watch Steven’s pre-match interview in full by clicking here!