RICHIE Smallwood is convinced George Lapslie scored the goal that took City up.
Antoni Sarcevic was credited with the final touch that clinched promotion amid chaotic scenes at Valley Parade.
Lapslie’s shot diverted off a combination of Sarcevic and a Fleetwood defender before wrong-footing keeper Jay Lynch and rolling into the corner of the Kop net.
But skipper Smallwood believes it’s Lapslie who should take the plaudits for City’s 96th-minute miracle.
“I wasn’t on the pitch at the time so wasn’t too close to the action,” he said. “I’ve only seen the one angle and you can’t really tell.
“It does look like it comes off Sarce but my initial reaction was that it was George Lapslie’s goal. I’m certainly giving it to him anyway.
“Up until now, he’s gone under the radar because everyone thinks it was Sarce. But George deserves a huge amount of credit.”
Lapslie scored four times since becoming City’s first signing of the winter window. He won League Two player of the month for March after contributing to six of their nine goals.
Smallwood added: “George has been unbelievable. He’s not always been picked but he’s turned up every day and worked hard.
“You see that on the pitch and what type of character he is. He’s a great asset and has scored some unbelievably important goals.
“That one on Saturday might not have been his greatest but it was certainly the most effective and it goes down in Bradford City history.
“Once everyone realises who scored the goal, he’ll get the recognition.”
Graham Alexander reckoned there was a bit of everyone involved on route to goal from Lapslie's volley – but felt it was right to give it to Sarcevic.
Antoni Sarcevic leads the celebrations in the changing room (Image: Thomas Gadd)
“I think it hit them both,” said the City boss. “When the ball came through, it hit the defender’s shin and then Sarce.
“I think the defender’s actually diverted the shot from going on the other side of the goal. But it’s hit Sarce after that.
“It’s very inconclusive but for me, it’s Sarce’s goal. For what it means, I think a Bradford City player needs to have that next to his name.
“If he isn’t in there, I don’t think the defender would be there either. It might be a shot that the keeper saves.
“It’s happened for a reason and it’s Sarce’s goal.”
In the chaos that followed, there were claims that Sarcevic had received a second booking for taking his shirt off and been sent off.
But when ordered was finally restored after the lengthy delay caused by two pitch invasions, City’s number 10 was still out there for the final 90 seconds.
Alexander added: “I didn’t see anything but I do know when the game finally restarted, the referee counted all the players.
“Obviously, what had gone on after the goal was mental. It was almost like at the start of the half when the officials check the teams and count that everyone’s there.
“I didn’t see any second yellow at all. It might just have been something that people have said.
“I had a chat with virtually every single player before they went back on to give them a bit of instruction and keep their heads and Sarce didn’t say anything about it.
“I think people might have presumed because he took his top off but I didn’t see anything.
“I don’t think it’s our mistake. It’s just another little side issue of a momentous day.”
Share