Mark Lawn is not writing off City’s Wembley chances at Burton tomorrow and insisted: We never do it the easy way.

The Bantams head for fortress Pirelli Stadium, where the Brewers have won 12 of their last 13 home games, needing to claw back a 3-2 deficit from their semi-final first leg.

Shrewsbury in 2009 are the only fourth-tier team to go through after losing the opening game at home since the play-offs began.

Joint-chairman Lawn admits the Bantams are now outsiders to win the tie but believes they are still in with a decent shout.

Lawn was a fan at Bloomfield Road 17 years ago when City famously stormed back from a 2-0 home defeat to stun Blackpool on the way to promotion. So he would not be surprised to see Phil Parkinson’s team turn it round.

He said: “We aren’t out of it yet. We’ve obviously got it all to do but it’s only half-time and let’s face it, Bradford City have never done anything the easy way.

“I went to Blackpool just to support the team. I thought we had no chance whatsoever. But we all got behind them that night and you saw what happened. These games can change.

“I’d ask all our fans going down to Burton to do the same and I’m sure they will. I would take penalties now – and then maybe we can make the world record ten in a row!”

City’s odds to win the play-offs have drifted to 5-1 with the bookies and Burton will be strongly fancied to complete the job and book a Wembley place with their impressive home form.

Lawn said: “We certainly aren’t the favourites any more but I knew it was always going to be a tough test.

“Burton are a very good side and finished seven points above us on merit. They’ve also got the best home record in the Football League, so we know how hard it’s going to be.

“But we need to control Calvin Zola. He is their main threat because he holds the ball up and plays it around as well as creating goals.

“We didn’t defend at all as a unit on Thursday and that’s something we’ve not had all season bar the odd game.”

There is no away goals rule in the play-offs. Should the game finish level on aggregate, it will go to extra-time and then penalties.