The Bantams clinched a 1-0 win over Fleetwood Town in the League One play-off semi-final first leg at Valley Parade, thanks to a Rory McArdle header.

His 77th minute strike was enough to give Stuart McCall’s men a narrow advantage ahead of Sunday’s second leg at the Lancashire seaside.

The aggregate winners of this tie will face either Millwall or Scunthorpe United in the final at Wembley on Saturday, May 20, with those teams playing out a goalless draw in their first leg clash last night.

After the final whistle, City supporters leaving the ground were in buoyant mood having seen their heroes win, while others sang ‘Que Sera, Sera, Whatever Will Be, Will Be, Where Going to Wembley’.

James Pieslak, 37, of Saltaire, said: “I am cautiously optimistic we will go through now.

“It is nice to win the home leg. We have nothing to fear going to Fleetwood for the second leg now.”

Tracy Durrant, 52, of Wibsey, said Fleetwood did not cause City any problems in the first leg tie.

She said: “They were never a threat to us. We were all over them.”

Anna Krywyszyn, of Great Horton, said: “We have done enough to go through now after tonight’s win.

“Whatever happens we have now finished the season unbeaten at home.”

Liam Gill, 25, of Great Horton, said: “If we play on Sunday like we have done tonight, we will go through. I would like us to have got a second goal, but we will take what we have got.”

Steph Allan, 25, of Thornton, said: “I think we will win 3-1 at Fleetwood on Sunday.

“I thought we could have scored some more goals tonight.”

Molly Egan, 22, of Shipley, added: “I thought we played well tonight and we have done enough to go through now.”

Marcus Nichol, 42, of Shelf, who went to the game with his son Deven, six, said: “We have got a goal and that’s all that matters. We could have scored more though.

“I think it was a tight game tonight.”

Ryan Blythe, 38, of Thornton, said: “We could have won 3-0 tonight. It could have been more than 1-0. It will be tight, but I reckon we will do it on Sunday and go to Wembley.”

Kevin Kershaw, 33, of Bierley, said the tie is still evenly balanced, despite City taking a 1-0 advantage to Fleetwood on Sunday.

He said: “I thought it was a close game. City had a lot of the ball. A 1-0 scoreline still means it is touch and go for us to go through.

Meanwhile, City supporter Joe Hall, 26, from Newcastle, is already looking ahead to the Wembley final.

He said: “I think we will get to Wembley now. I just hope we don’t get Millwall in the final.”

Mike Harrison, editor of the City Gent fanzine, said: “Fleetwood played to stop us playing tonight.

“Happy that we have got a 1-0 advantage, but it’s still going to be very tight in the second leg.

“If it was 50-50 before the match last night, it is now 60-40 in City’s favour going into the second tie. But anything can happen in the second match still.

“It will be a very tactical situation for Stuart McCall on Sunday now; does he play to frustrate Fleetwood, or go for it?”

Earlier, excited fans had started arriving in city centre pubs during the late afternoon to enjoy a pre-match drink, with the Beer House, Sparrow and Bradford Brewery among the most popular venues.

Many had travelled some distance to roar on the Bantams, including one of the more optimistic supporters, Andrew Parker, 56, who now lives in Newcastle and has been a Bantams season ticket holder for more than 30 years.

While enjoying a drink at Bradford Brewery, he revealed: “ I’ve booked my hotel for the final at Wembley!”

Outside the City Gent, Bantams fans Mark Hodgkins and Danny Clarke could be seen leading the singing an hour before kick-off, with a lively rendition of ‘everywhere we go.’

Outside the ground, Zeeshaan Tariq, 20, of Thornbury, and Saiful Khan, 16, of Undercliffe, were hoping the large home crowd would act as City’s 12th man on the night.

Zeeshaan said: “The fans need to get behind them tonight. We need to have a good atmosphere.”

Meanwhile, parents Louise and Jason Hayton, of Woodside, were hoping for a City win for their daughter Grace, who celebrated her third birthday yesterday. Louise said: “I’ve been nervous all day and felt a bit sick.”