Burton will have to rethink their plans for the second-leg showdown tomorrow – because they did not think they would be leading.
It’s advantage Brewers going back to the Pirelli Stadium, where they boast the best home record in all three Football League divisions.
But boss Gary Rowett admits their one-goal cushion could mean a tactical change. He had anticipated they would be trailing after Valley Parade.
Rowett said: “We’d planned all week for maybe chasing the game at home. We just wanted to still be in the tie coming here.
“If we’d have lost the game 1-0 I wouldn’t have been too disappointed. The game would have still been alive – maybe that’s our slightly smaller mentality showing.
“As it is, it’s very different and we’ll have a little think about it. But the tie is still evenly poised.
“We’ve got a slight advantage but I don’t think it matters who’s favourites. Bradford are a big club and have done fantastically well in the cup this season.”
Burton have won 12 of the 13 home games since relegated Aldershot triumphed at the Pirelli in November. Chesterfield are the only away winners since as the Brewers hauled in 36 points from a possible 39.
Rowett added: “I’d love to say there was a secret. But we do have so much attacking potency at home and we’ve scored lots and lots of fantastic goals.
“Look at the sides we’ve beaten at home – Rotherham 2-0, Cheltenham 3-1, Gillingham 3-2. All the big sides have lost here.
“If it was a one-off game, I’d fancy us to beat Bradford at home because we’ve done those type of things all season.
“But when you’ve got an aggregate score in the end and you’ve got something to hold on to it changes the dynamic slightly and how you approach the game.”
Calvin Zola was taken off before the end at Valley Parade after his two-goal salvo. But Rowett expects the Congolese striker, who also scored the winner when City last visited in October, to be fit and firing again.
He added: “Calvin was absolutely immense at times but just thought he was tiring. He’s not played a lot of football recently.
“When you’re playing in that lone role, you need to cover plenty of ground and occupy defenders and keep the ball alive. He stopped doing that for a spell because he was tired “We need him to be fresh for tomorrow.
“I thought we had two or three fantastic performances and we know we’ve got that in the team.
“That has won us games at home. They like playing in front of our own fans and enjoy that environment.
“We’ll have a fantastic crowd tomorrow and I’m sure the Bradford fans will add to that.
“It will be a great atmosphere once again, which is what these play-offs are all about.”
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