2017 EFL League One play-off Final

Millwall had featured in three play-off finals prior to this game. They lost the 2009 Football League One play-off Final 3–2 to Scunthorpe United but triumphed the following season in the 2010 Football League One play-off Final defeating Swindon Town 1–0. Millwall also lost the previous season's final 3–1 to Barnsley.[7][8][9] They had played at Wembley in the 2012–13 FA Cup semi-final, losing to Wigan Athletic.[10] Bradford City played in the 1996 Football League Second Division play-off Final at the old Wembley Stadium, beating Notts County 2–0.[11] They had also appeared at Wembley: in 2013 they won the League Two play-off Final 3–0 against Northampton Town but lost 5–0 to Swansea City in the 2013 Football League Cup Final.[12][13] During the regular 2016–17 season, both fixtures between the clubs had ended in 1–1 draws.[14] Gregory was Millwall's highest scorer with seventeen goals, while Jordy Hiwula was Bradford's top marksman with nine.[1] Bradford were attempting to restore their Championship status which they had lost 13 years prior, having been relegated from the 2003–04 Football League First Division.[15][16] Millwall last played in the Championship during the 2014–15 season when they were relegated to League One after finishing in 22nd position.[17]

Simon Hooper representing the Wiltshire Football Association was the referee for the match, with assistants Nick Hopton and Neil Davies, and Chris Kavanagh acted as the fourth official.[18] Bradford City were allocated 38,000 tickets for the game, while Millwall received 37,623.[19][20] Both teams wore their traditional home kit with Bradford in claret and amber while Millwall wore blue and white.[21] The two starting line-ups were unchanged from their respective semi-final second legs,[21] although Bradford's Alex Jones returned to the bench.[22] The match was broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports.[23] Bookmakers predicted a close match with no clear favourite to win.[23][24][25]

Steve Morison (pictured in 2012) scored the only goal of the game.

Millwall kicked the game off around 3 p.m. in front of a Wembley crowd of 53,320.[26] Two minutes into the match Gregory was fouled by Romain Vincelot, but Shaun Williams' free kick was blocked. Mark Marshall's cross was then cleared but fell to teammate McMahon whose shot was wide from 20 yards (18 m). Nathaniel Knight-Percival then conceded a corner from which Shaun Hutchinson's deflected header went over Bradford City's crossbar. A minute later, Morison beat McCardle but his header was wide. On 13 minutes, Billy Clarke received the ball from Marshall but his shot was tipped past the Millwall post by their goalkeeper Jordan Archer. Two minutes later, Archer saved once again, this time from a James Meredith shot.[21][27] In the 31st minute, McCardle's header from a McMahon cross was saved by Archer. Aiden O'Brien was fouled by McMahon in the 39th minute and the resulting free kick was headed across the area by Morison. The ball reached Hutchinson whose shot was blocked by McCardle. Three minutes later, Marshall was fouled and Charlie Wyke's header from the free kick went wide. After one minute of additional time, the goalless half was brought to a close.[28][29]

With no changes to either team during the break, Bradford got the second half under way. On 50 minutes, Meredith's shot was blocked by Millwall defenders on the six-yard line.[28] Two minutes later, Gregory's header was struck first time by Morison but his shot went wide. O'Brien became the first player to be booked after fouling Marshall on 58 minutes. McMahon's resulting free kick was then headed over from 6 yards (5.5 m) by McArdle. Two minutes later Gregory's pass sent Jed Wallace in on goal but he dragged his shot wide. In the 65th minute, another McMahon free kick was headed over the Millwall crossbar by McArdle. With 20 minutes of the match remaining, Millwall made the first substitution of the game with Shane Ferguson replacing O'Brien. Four minutes later, Bradford made a double change, with Jones and Timothée Dieng replacing Clarke and Nicky Law. Meredith was shown a yellow card in the 76th minute for a foul on Wallace, before another chance for Morison was blocked by McCardle. Meredith then headed wide of Millwall's goal from a McMahon cross.[30] With five minutes remaining, Williams intercepted a Marshall pass and crossed the ball. Gregory headed it across goal for Morison to volley the ball into the Bradford City goal from 6 yards (5.5 m), for Millwall to take the lead. Fred Onyedinma then replaced Wallace in the 89th minute and Gregory was substituted off for Calum Butcher soon after. In the last minute of five minutes of additional time, McMahon's shot hit the side netting. The final whistle was blown and the match ended 1–0 to Millwall.[29]