BRADFORD City’s loyal army of supporters were in “defiant” mood last night as they came to terms with a disappointing end to an otherwise “tremendous season.”

Fans made their voices heard in south-east London and in pubs and clubs closer to home during the crunch match, but had to watch their heroes slip to a 4-2 aggregate defeat at the hands of Millwall.

Around 2,000 hardy supporters had made their way to the daunting surroundings of Millwall’s Den.

Some of those who made the journey held up a banner which read ‘Everybody Loves Us’ - a message that contrasted sharply with the Millwall fans’ chant of ‘No one likes us, we don’t care.’ With loud chants of ‘Attack, attack, attack’ coming from the away end, the players were left in little doubt as to what the fans wanted.

But, despite a goal on the stroke of half time that gave the fans a glimmer of hope, City were unable to overturn a 3-1 first-leg deficit as the second leg petered out into a 1-1 draw.

Mike Thompson, chairman of Bradford City Supporters’ Trust, said it had been a “tremendous season” overall, but admitted the Bantams had fallen “just short” of what was needed for a Wembley appearance.

Speaking on his way back from the game, he said: “We look forward to next season with optimism because we’ve got a decent bunch of players.

“In the end, we just came up short but we certainly gave it a go and they had to resort to time-wasting to win in the end.

“It’s been a tremendous season overall. Who would have known a few weeks ago that we would have got into the play-offs?”

After the final whistle, the travelling supporters had to endure taunts from the Millwall fans, many of whom ran onto the pitch to celebrate their win.

Mr Thompson said City fans had reacted with “defiance” towards what he described as the “goading” from Millwall’s fans.

He said: “A few times towards the end, their fans ran on the pitch and that disrupted the flow of the game, although I’m not saying that it affected the result.”

There were also reports of a Bradford City supporters' bus having a window smashed as it left the ground tonight.

A number of fans tweeted about the incident and expressed frustration that police had not done more to protect the bus as it passed through the area.

Back in Bradford, hundreds of fans had packed into the McCall Suite at Valley Parade.

The Bantams fans cheered at the big screen at the final whistle and are now hoping for automatic promotion to the Championship next season instead.

City supporter Keith McDonald, 53, of Eccleshill, said: “I’m gutted. One bad half at home in the first leg has cost us, that’s been the difference.

“The next progression next season for us is automatic promotion.”

Barry Towriss, 55, of Eccleshill and Bantams season ticket holder, said: “I’m disappointed.

“Half-time came too soon for us. But we have gone one better than last season.

“We will have to go one better next season now.”

His son, Nathan Towriss, 32, of Wrose, added: “We played well tonight.

“The second half was better than the first half for us.

“We should have had a penalty with 15 minutes to go, that could have changed things.

“We have next season to look forward to.”

Amarpal Singh, 28, of Bingley, was equally as optimistic of his side’s future.

He said: “I could not be more proud of the players.

“It has been the best season of football I have seen from City.

“The performances over the last few months of the season have been brilliant.

“I thought we did better this season than I expected us to.”

Brian Dibb, of Addingham, said: “They played out of their skins tonight.

“I’m always proud of them. I always say City are going to win the next game. They have gone down fighting.

“If we’d got that penalty in the second half, that would have changed it.”

There was also a lively atmosphere at The Ginger Goose in the city centre.

Bernie and Mick Brown, from Wibsey, said: “When the first goal went it, it looked all over,” adding that they welcomed their team’s attempted fightback.