THIS could very well be Amario Cozier-Duberry’s swansong at the Toughsheet Stadium. And, oh boy, what a way to go!
Humble, unassuming, achingly polite – the little Brighton winger does not cast a huge shadow among some of the bigger characters in Steven Schumacher’s squad but he has certainly made a massive impression on Bolton Wanderers and could yet be the difference between League One and Championship football when all is said and done.
His spectacular strike proved the difference on a night of agonisingly fine margins, nudging the Whites into a preferable position for the second leg at Valley Parade on Thursday night.
We have seen time and time again that Cozier-Duberry does not need to be having his most effective or influential game to conjure up a moment of genius to win it. Knowing he will step in and wave that magic wand of a left foot is one thing, stopping it quite another.
But from the start it has not simply been about the goals, or the assists. Cozier-Duberry is idolised on the terraces at Wanderers because he bought instantly into the work ethic demanded by the supporters. His attitude as a player destined for a much higher level of football underlines his pedigree.
When we reflect on the most successful loans Bolton have made this summer – his name deserves to be mentioned alongside the very best of them. And to paraphrase the 20-year-old’s own words after Saturday night’s game, he isn’t done yet.
It is quite clear to see that the second leg at Valley Parade is going to be a dogfight, and that a proud club like Bradford City will not give up their Wembley dream easily.
Graham Alexander’s side is stacked full of streetwise types who will take this result in their stride and know that is does not discount them from winning the war over two legs.
There were some key moments where the tie may have spurred off into a different direction – Josh Sheehan’s last-man challenge on Kayden Jackson in the first half, Chris Forino’s recovery tackle in the penalty box on the same striker in the second. Referee Martin Coy waved the first away but pulled up injured shortly after the interval and his replacement, fourth official David Rock, continued in a lenient vein.
Bolton too had nexus points where the margin of victory could have been greater – Cozier-Duberry’s shot that bounced off the inside of the post shortly after he had opened the scoring, a big penalty shout from John McAtee late on, or even a mysterious missed foul on Ibrahim Cissoko on the edge of the box early on.
Whether Coy or Rock, neither man felt especially compelled to stick their neck out with a decision that would shape the game, and it did not suffer for it as a spectacle. More it has set up an intriguing second act to this fixture where both managers will feel their team is capable of reaching the final.
For Wanderers to get a chance to avenge that awful May afternoon in 2024, more of the same defensive resolve will be necessary.
But for a couple of Antoni Sarcevic efforts which cleared the bar, Jack Bonham’s goal remained relatively unthreatened. Bradford did, however, exert regular bouts of pressure on the penalty box through sheer persistence, and their set piece threat is one that cannot be ignored.
Questions had been asked of Bolton’s focus at the back. Defeat against Luton on the final day of the regular season had highlighted some messy and unresolved issues but this was a welcome riposte, especially for George Johnston on his return at left-back.
After wobbling against the direct Josh Neufville in the league fixture a few weeks ago, he was back to his fiery best, actively seeking out the 50-50 challenges that seem to fuel him.
With Johnny Kenny now out for the season, Schumacher had to find a different focus for his attack. Sam Dalby had only recently returned to training, so Mason Burstow was asked to play as a number nine with Ruben Rodrigues tucked in behind. The ploy worked well and enabled the addition of Ethan Erhahon alongside Josh Sheehan, adding another layer of defensive strength on the left side.
As a result, Bradford’s two attacking midfielders Sarcevic and George Lapslie had limited involvement, and with Xav Simons also making a tidy appearance with 20 minutes to go, the Whites look well prepared to dig in, if that is what must happen in West Yorkshire.
Schumacher’s side won’t play for a draw, we know that much. And even if they do approach the game with a more pragmatic mindset, the likes of Cozier-Duberry, Cissoko and Rodrigues are still perfectly capable of illuminating a game with a touch of brilliance. Bolton’s focus must surely be on replicating this level of tenacity, winning duels, landing on second balls and refusing to lose focus against the darker arts their opponents are more than happy to employ if they must.
Just over 2,500 fans were lucky enough to grab a ticket for the second leg, and they carry with them over the M62 the hopes of 10 times that number. Wanderers opted not to delve too deeply into semi-final pageantry, creating crowd mosaics, waving flags or clappers, and instead leaned heavily on match announcer Phil Heys keep the crowd warmed up, alongside Marcus Harrison’s ever-excellent video packages on the big screen.
The net result was exactly the positive atmosphere Wanderers needed. The positivity brought out the best in the players too, and none of them were above a bit of cheerleading when required.
A goal to the good, the final whistle sounded after nine minutes of stoppage time, most caused by the refereeing change. Unusually for the Toughsheet, there was no drama, as both sides paused for breath, ready for the second round.
Sky’s producers whipped Cozier-Duberry and Eoin Toal in front of the cameras to give their thoughts, awarding the winger their man of the match trophy. And, typically, he jogged off at pace clutching his award, refusing to milk applause or wallow in the moment.
This was job one and it was completed impressively. Now comes the hard part.
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