NOSTALGIA: When Bantams refused to go for Burton in play-offs

"YOU’VE got to remember some players and managers never get to Wembley. Supporters follow teams their entire lives and don't see them there - and we're going back for a second time in one season.”

The words of a proud Phil Parkinson at Burton’s Pirelli Stadium after his team had just written another chapter in the remarkable story of 2012-2013.

Amid a noisy backdrop of 1,700 bouncing away fans, the Bantams had pulled out one more performance of true grit, hard work and ruthless quality.

Three months on from reaching the Capital One Cup final, they were headed back to Wembley for the play-off showpiece.

City, being City, didn’t do it the easy way – and had to overcome a first leg deficit following Valley Parade defeat to the Brewers three days earlier.

Garry Thompson’s stunning strike in the second half of that opening encounter had thrown a lifeline at just 3-2 down – which Parkinson’s troops would grab eagerly.

Burton might have had the best home record in League Two that season but it counted for nothing against the fired-up visitors.

The scene was set from the 26th minute when City levelled the aggregate score thanks to an alert piece of anticipation from Nahki Wells.

Marcus Holness attempted to head James Meredith's long ball back to Stuart Tomlinson but it fell short and the Bermudian was on it in a flash to guide past the stranded keeper.

The noise created made it sound more like a home game as Burton tried to claw their way back.

Jon McLaughlin beat away a well-struck drive from Robbie Weir but otherwise City, with Andrew Davies back from suspension to cement the back four, held them at bay up to the break.

The travelling faithful then cranked up the volume five minutes into the second half as the Bantams extended their lead.

James Hanson reached 50 goals for his hometown club with a finish that Parkinson would later describe as “Premiership class”.

Hanson flicked on flicked on Rory McArdle's clearing header and then capitalised on good strength by Wells, who held off Ian Sharps for his strike partner to beat Tomlinson with a thumping angled drive on his weaker right foot.

City’s joy at edging ahead in the tie would prove short-lived.

Jacques Maghoma, a thorn in the side at Valley Parade, caused more problems with a deft turn on halfway to leave Stephen Darby on his backside.

As the winger advanced into the box, he went tumbling under Thompson’s challenge from behind. Referee Graham Scott pointed to the spot – and Maghoma’s well-placed penalty was too much for McLaughlin.

James Hanson, Nahki Wells and James Meredith punch the air after City's dramatic victory (Image: Newsquest)

City, though, rode that blow to instantly hit back with a third goal as the contest bounced from end to end.

Inevitably, it was the deadly duo up front who once more did the damage.

McLaughlin's free-kick was flicked on by Hanson and Wells spun off Sharps to beat the diving Tomlinson with a bundled finish into the corner. The City end descended into bedlam.

Burton came back firing and McLaughlin saved from Maghoma, while Alex MacDonald’s effort deflected into the side-netting.

Wells was threatening to take on the Brewers backline single-handed and danced his way in once more, only for Damien McCrory to slide across and block the shot.

The rebound fell for Hanson, who could have sealed it with a fourth goal but lifted the ball over from 12 yards.

Fourth official Paul Tierney threw City a curve ball when the board flashed up with six minutes of stoppages.

But Hanson typified the determination with some last-ditch defending in his own goalmouth to deny Diamond as City made sure they held on to their return ticket to Wembley.

"I told the lads before the game that it wouldn't be the end of the world if we didn't win," said Parkinson when he had finished celebrating on the pitch, "we'd still be alive and still have our families.

"But what we wanted to do was play really well. Concentrate on the performance and let the result take care of itself - you saw a team that did that.

"There's a determination about the team. This was a massive test and they've come through it again.

Joint-chairman Mark Lawn, who had shaved his head for luck, said: “This side do not give up. Anybody else would have caved in after losing the first leg at home.”

BURTON: Tomlinson, Diamond, McCrory, O’Connor, Sharps, Holness (Kee 56), McGrath (Phillips 80), Weir, Maghoma, MacDonald, Zola (Symes 73).

CITY: McLaughlin, Darby, McArdle, Davies, Meredith, Thompson, Jones, Doyle, Reid (Atkinson 73), Wells, Hanson.