Birmingham and Bradford reach EFL Trophy semi-finals

With victories of 1-0 away, League Two champions Bradford City and Birmingham, who have already qualified for the semi-finals of the EFL Trophy.

Birmingham, who lifted the trophy in the 1990-91 and 1994-95 seasons, beat Stevenage, while the Bantams knocked out 2021-22 winners Rotherham at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

With seven minutes left in the final eighteen minutes, Jay Stansfield ran onto Marc Leonard’s through-ball to score the winner. The Blues dominated their final-eight tie at the Lamex Stadium, but Taye Ashby-Hammond’s saves kept them from succeeding.

The result extends the League One leaders ‘ unbeaten run to 18 matches in all competitions.

Just before the hour mark, Bradford scored the winning penalty against League One Rotherham when Reece James deflected Brad Halliday and Richard Smallwood drilled the penalty into the top of the net.

Elsewhere, League One promotion chasers Wrexham claimed an emphatic 4-1 win at League Two Port Vale in a rearranged last-16 tie to tee up a quarter-final with Bolton.