Live blog: City defeated, but players and fans did us proud (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

7:56pm

Phil Parkinson could not fault the efforts of his City side after their 5-0 defeat by Swansea in the Capital One Cup final.

The Bantams were stuffed 5-0 but Parkinson took the positives from their amazing cup run this season.

“I'm not criticising anyone as the lads have been magnificent,” said Parkinson.

“The highlight for me was the way the fans stayed behind the team throughout the game.

“What Swansea did to us they've done to Premier League sides this season. They're an outstanding side.

“I have to give massive credit to the job [Swans boss] Michael Laudrup has done.

“We didn't do everything to our maximum but it was a big day and a massive ask.

“Of course, we could have done better but to go to Wigan and win, to beat Arsenal and Aston Villa over two legs - I don't want to be critical.

“The way the lads conducted themselves throughout this added exposure has been outstanding.”
 

7:51pm

6:38pm

Bradford East MP David Ward‏ said the trip to Wembley had been a “great experience” for City’s fans and paid tribute to the coverage in the Telegraph & Argus.
He said: “Hats off to the T&A - great coverage over last couple of months and superb today.”

6:19pm

Swansea end still pretty full as their players continue their celebrations... Andy Williams' classic 'I love you baby' now being belted out... not a Bantams fan in sight...

6:18pm

6:12pm

Raucous scenes here now as Swansea celebrate their success... City end now all but empty...

6:01pm

So that's it. The dream is over. Officially. Emphatically. 5-0 to Swansea. Harsh? Probably. But it's Michael Laudrup's men who go home with the Capital One Cup.

5:59pm

5:53pm

Bradford City 0, Swansea City 5

Matt Duke saw red as City’s hopes of a fairytale victory in today’s Capital One Cup final were reduced to rubble by a vibrant Swansea outfit at Wembley.

Michael Laudrup’s men were utterly dominant from start to finish and led in the 16th minute through Nathan Dyer.

The diminutive forward slipped the ball past Duke from close range after the Bantams goalkeeper parried a shot from Michu.

Michu then added a second for Swansea five minutes before the break, which was just reward for the bucketloads of possession that the Welsh side enjoyed.

City, who had embarked on an incredible run to become the first fourth tier side to reach a major cup final at Wembley, simply struggled to cope with Swansea’s freeflowing football.

Backed by a huge following of over 30,000 fans, the Bantams lacked nothing in spirit but failed to fashion any decent openings of note and were left facing a mountainous task at 2-0 down.

It got worse for the Bantams as Dyer grabbed his second with an outstanding curling effort which put Swansea 3-0 up in the 47th minute.

Shortly before the hour mark, Duke’s trailing leg felled Jonathan De Guzman and referee Kevin Friend pointed to the penalty spot.

Dyer wanted to complete his treble but De Guzman eventually stepped up to sidefoot the ball past replacement stopper Jon McLaughlin, who had come on to replace Nahki Wells.

Swansea were happy to play out time thereafter but grabbed a fifth in the dying embers when De Guzman buried a low right-wing cross from De Guzman.

Sadly for City, their amazing cup run is over – leaving them to focus solely on winning promotion from League Two.

5:52pm

Bantams remain on their feet, with few leaving the stadium as the final whistle blows.  The team walk to applaud their fans.

5:52pm

Nathan Dyer man of the match... according to the Tannoy.

5:51pm

FINAL SCORE... City 0 Swansea 5...

5:50pm

Swansea grab a fifth through De Guzman, who buries Angel Rangel's cross...5-0... Sheer agony.

5:48pm

Three minutes added time...

5:47pm

More gallows humour from City fans, who sing 'We're going to win 5-4...'...one minute left..

5:43pm

82,597 is the crowd.........

5:42pm

84mins... DAVIES off... TIENDALLI on...

5:40pm

Oles now being sung by the Swansea fans as their team keep possession with ease... still 4-0...

5:35pm

77 mins... DYER off.... LAMAH on...

5:34pm

And indeed it is the Bradford City fans making the most noise in Wembley. They are on their feet, while Swansea fans remain seated.

5:31pm

73mins... HINES on THOMPSON off.... still 4-0...

5:30pm

Fans in the City Vaults

5:29pm

Despite the scoreline, Bradford City supporters are waving their flags and singing: "Stand up if you love City!"

5:28pm

City fans in the City Vaults in Bradford today

5:26pm

Fans in Haigy's bar direct boos and lots of coulorful language towards the ref after Bradford went down to 10 men.

5:24pm

67 mins... Michu shot blocked by some desperate City defending...

5:23pm

Swansea playing with increasing freedom and a swagger... still 4-0.

5:22pm

5:20pm

62 mins - Swansea substitution.. Sung-Yeung replaced by Garry Monk...

5:18pm

61... Michu fires wide from 20 yards... still 4-0 to Swansea. Definitely damage limitation now.

5:18pm

5:16pm

GOAL as De Guzman fires home the penalty...4-0....

5:16pm

City Vaults, in Bradford city centre, is shoulder to shoulder with Bantams fans. No room to move. People trying to stay upbeat, with one fan saying: "We're just glad we got there."

5:15pm

Duke's trailing leg caught a Swansea player and he is sent for an early bath at the expense of a penalty... WELLS off McLAUGHLIN on to face the spot-kick...

5:14pm

56 MINS... MATT DUKE sent off!!!!

5:12pm

5:11pm

Touch of gallows humour from the City fans.. Que sera sera, whatever will be, will be, we've been to Wemberlee....

5:08pm

5:07pm

Almost impossible to see any way back for City now... 3-0 down and facing a fight to keep the scoreline respectable...

5:06pm

Nathan Dyer curls a delightful left-foot shot into the top corner to leave Laudrup punching the air pitchside....

5:05pm

GOAL... 47 mins - DYER puts Swansea 3-0 up...

5:05pm

Half-time sub... Good OFF... Davies ON...

5:04pm

Action from the game

5:04pm

We are underway for the second half....

5:01pm

City despair as Swansea go two up

4:55pm

4:54pm

4:49pm

Lots of deflated faces in Haigy's bar, Lumb Lane, after the second goal. People now debating whether City can pull it back.

4:47pm

Half-time: City 0 Swansea 2... Game over?????

4:47pm

4:46pm

4:46pm

One minute added time .... still 2-0....

4:45pm

4:43pm

43 mins... Swansea so comfortable.... Routledge forces Duke into a smart stop at his near post...

4:43pm

Michu shows brilliant skill to sidefoot the ball past Carl McHugh's legs and into the net... massive mountain to climb for City now....

4:41pm

40 mins..  GOAL!! Michu puts Swansea 2-0 up with a sweet left-foot strike...

4:39pm

38 mins... Ki Sung-Yeung booked for chopping down Nahki Wells....

4:37pm

4:37pm

36 mins... Doyle with a deep ball to the far post to Hanson, but Swansea clear the danger... still 1-0..

4:35pm

4:32pm

4:31pm

The ball falls to Leon Britton, whose strike sails harmlessly wide from 25 yards...

4:31pm

30 min... Stephen Darby concedes a corner...

4:30pm

Swansea remain utterly dominant with the ball but have rarely cut City open at the back....

4:29pm

4:29pm

4:28pm

City supporters remain in fine voice despite the scoreline and Swansea's dominance...

4:25pm

Stephen Darby does well to clear the danger... still 1-0 Swansea...

4:24pm

24... Swansea remaining largely comfortable and have a corner after Curtis Good heads clear...

4:21pm

Many of Bradford’s pubs are busy with City fans watching the action on television.
Haigy's pub, a regular for city supporters, is full of people cheering the team on. Many telling us they are not die hard fans, but want to enjoy the experience of Bradford coming together.

4:19pm

4:18pm

City now looking to steady themselves after Dyer's opener...

4:18pm

4:16pm

16 - GOAL!!! NATHAN DYER scores after Matt Dukes parries Michu's left-foot drive...

4:15pm

14... Ben Davies heads a right-wing cross wide of Matt Duke's left-hand post....

4:11pm

"IN-GER-LAND, IN-GER-LAND, IN-GER-LAND" is now the chant from the City end...

4:10pm

4:07pm

4:07pm

07... Swansea dominating possession... Wayne Routledge caught offside...

4:05pm

City now getting a grip of the game...

4:04pm

Swansea on top in the opening exchanges...

3:59pm

3:57pm

Eight minutes away from kick-off...

3:55pm

3:51pm

3:49pm

3:48pm

3:45pm

"CITY 'TIL I DIE" is the cry from the raucous away end...

3:42pm

Atmosphere reaching fever pitch now as the teams are announced over the Tannoy!!

3:39pm

Mike Fenton, from Ontario, Canada, has emailed this good luck message: "As a lifelong City fan I will be following City on Bantams Player from Toronto. 

"Come on you City - all the way to a 2-1 City win!!"

3:38pm

Been chatting to fans on Wembley Way.

Christian Ingham, 27, of Shipley, told me how he missed his coach to London this morning and sold his ticket - but then managed to get a lift and was waiting to buy another one!

He said: "It's extremely surreal being here - especially when you think about the teams we've beaten to get here and the teams we lose to week in and week out in the league.

"I think if we win Wembley will go bananas!"

3:30pm

3:30pm

See a gallery of pictures of fans arriving at Wembley today

3:29pm

Swansea fans now having a sing-song...

3:26pm

3:23pm

Highlights of all the Bantams' previous rounds now being played on the two Wembley big screens... the City fans are loving it...

3:22pm

3:21pm

3:21pm

The Bradford anthem now being played over the Wembley Tannoy...

3:13pm

3:12pm

3:11pm

3:07pm

Team news: - Rory McArdle is fit to play and comes in for Andrew Davies...

3:06pm

3:06pm

3:05pm

2:56pm

2:55pm

2:53pm

2:44pm

2:41pm

Telling comment from the Media Suite.... "When would you ever think Bradford City v Swansea would be a bigger occasion than Manchester City v Chelsea?"

Must be a Wembley cup final, then...

2:37pm

Former Bantams Ian Ormondroyd and Paul Jewell tucking into their pre-match meal in the Media Suite...

2:37pm

2:36pm

Just awaiting team news from the Wembley Media Suite now....

1:51pm

1:50pm

1:49pm

12:45pm

Should mention our coach driver Peter Benson is a Leeds United fan!  He tells me he drove a bus of Bradford fans down to the Villa away leg wearing his Leeds shirt!

12:43pm

12:43pm

12:39pm

We're just pulling up at Wembley now - can see dozens of coaches and swarms of fans. Very exciting!  Some spontanous chanting and applause...  people just can't wait to get off the bus and start walking down Wembley Way!

12:37pm

Brothers Matt, 28, and Joe Stallard, 25, are here with their family.

Matt, of Thackley, said: "I remember Stallard scoring the second goal in the play-off final - I was 11 and dead pleased, even though we were not related!

"This is the first time I'm at the new Wembley and I can't wait.

"I knew straight away I wanted to come down on a coach because you want to leave from the club, the atmosphere's been brilliant!"

12:34pm

Just been chatting to some fans on the coach.  Seems everyone, except children, were at Wembley for the 1996 play-off finals.  Lifelong supporters hoping the success will be replicated today!

One 14-year-old, Lewis Searle, of Eccleshill, reckons the match will be "brilliant".

11:55am

Weather looking a bit dreary. What's it like at Wembley?

11:54am

11:54am

11:53am

11:46am

Seen dozens of Bantams' scarves and flags flying from cars travelling down the M1. Even one car with a Bradford City crest on the side! Great atmosphere waving and beeping horns at each other!

11:45am

11:30am

11:30am

11:29am

11:25am

11:24am

Next stop Wembley!

We're on our way again and the atmosphere has certainly cranked up a notch.  As we pulled out of the services there were chants of 'Wembley, Wembley, we're the famous Bradford City and we're off to Wembley" - with an encore of 'Que Sera Sera'!

11:22am

Northampton Services was jammed packed full of Bantams - my mum, who used to work there and stopped by to meet me, has reliably informed me she has never seen it so busy!

10:19am

We're about to get to Northampton Services, so I'll bring you more from Wayne and the other fans on board after a much-needed coffee!  Keep tweeting and emailing me your pictures!

10:17am

He said he had been offered the opportunity today but wanted to share the experience with his sons: "There's a fantastic buzz at the back of the coach, people who are desperate to get there.

"I had the chance to work today but I have two boys who are massive Bradford City fans and wanted to share today with them. Capital One offered me the chance to be honorary captain of their Capital One Covoy and it gave me the opportunity to bring my family and friends.

"It's a fantastic gesture by Capital One to put on 20 coaches free of charge for fans and I know they have one the same for Swansea.

"I'm so pleased to be involved."

10:11am

Just been chatting to Wayne Jacobs, who's on board with his two sons - both very excited about today's Wembley final!

Wayne, who played when City were last at Wembley in 1996, said: "It's fantastic, I'm very proud to be part of the whole day really. It's great for the football club and a big day for the city. Everyone in Bradford is very proud.

"It's been very noticeable seeing people around Bradford in claret and amber scarves and City shirts. When I've been in schools children have been asking about the final. I think it shows how strongly people feel the football club reflects themselves and how proud they are to be associated with it."

10:07am

10:07am

10:06am

10:05am

10:05am

10:04am

Just passed Leicester Forest, absolutely rammed with Bradford CIty fans!  Imagine scenes will be the same at Watford Gap and Northampton Services, where we'll be stopping shortly!

10:04am

Just passed Leicester Forest, absolutely rammed with Bradford CIty fans!  Imagine scenes will be the same at Watford Gap and Northampton Services, where we'll be stopping shortly!

10:02am

And here's Sam with Wayne Jacobs...

9:58am

The atmosphere is steadily building on board the Capital One Convoy. Some are tired from the early start, but others are in high spirits and fine voice!  A young Bantam, Sam, has just led the coach in a singsong - with 'Que Sera Sera' and chants of 'Wembley!'

8:35am

Anyway, I'm going to sign off for a bit so I can chat to some of the fans on board. I'll log on again shortly with updates!  Email me about your journey to Wembley and tweet your pictures to @HannahP_TandA.

8:30am

We're in the only fully Capital One Cup branded coach, so we're getting a lot of attention from motorists on the M1.  Spotted quite a few passengers taking photos!

8:29am

Just been passed by a minibus bedecked with Bantams' flags.  Driver beeped his horn at them, sparking laughter from the coach!

8:27am

8:26am

8:26am

In a stark contrast to the snowy Bradford weather, here are a group of lifeguards at Bondi Beach cheeing on the Bantams!  Sent in by Alan Hirst, a fan of 55 years on holiday in Australia and New Zealand.

8:20am

Just had an email from an ex-pat fan, formerly of Menston, now living in New Zealand.  They said: "Wishing you good luck from New Zealand. We'll be getting up early to cheer you on! Wish we were at Wembley! We're feeling very emotional on this amazing day."

8:18am

8:18am

8:17am

8:17am

8:16am

8:16am

I'm told that more than 1,000 people got on board coaches from Midland Road this morning!

8:09am

And we're off! The road to Wembley begins!

Driving past scores of fans still queuing as light snow begins to fall.

8:07am

Will be chatting to him once we set off. Let me know if you have any questions for him!

8:06am

I'm on board the lead coach in the Capital One Convoy, which is being led by Bradford City legend Wayne Jacobs...

7:59am

There are dozens of coaches on Midland Road, with hundreds of anxious fans queuing up patiently - desperate to get going on their trip to Wembley!

There are plenty of Bantams' shirts and claret and amber scarves to be seen all over the place. Everyone's in high spririts.

Gordon Hendry, 63, just told me he feels like a child at Christmas!

6:00am

The day we've all been waiting for is finally here! This afternoon Bradford City face Swansea in the Capital One Cup final at Wembley.

I'll be updating this blog during the day as I join thousands of supporters on their journey from Valley Parade to the capital for the showpiece clash.

Let us know what you're doing to prepare for the match - email your pictures to hannah.postles@telegraphandargus.co.uk or tweet @HannahP_TandA.