PLAY-OFF SETBACK AT BLUES FOCUSES ROWETT

BURTON boss Gary Rowett admits his play-off heartache with Birmingham means he will take nothing for granted despite his side’s semifinal advantage.

Rowett’s side took a major step closer to Wembley on Thursday when Calvin Zola’s fine double and Robbie Weir’s strike gave them a 3-2 victory over Bradford at Valley Parade.

Zola’s bullet header put the Brewers 1-0 up after 22 minutes and he doubled his side’s advantage two minutes later with an arrowed strike into the bottom corner.

Nahki Wells pulled a goal back for Bradford after Damien McCrory handled in the area but Weir restored his side’s two-goal advantage just before the break.

But Garry Thompson trimmed the deficit with a thumping 25-yarder – which skimmed off teammate Gary Jones – midway through the second half.

Still, the Brewers are in the box seat but Rowett, who as a Birmingham player was on the wrong end of a 4-0 thumping against Barnsley in the first leg in 2000, is just pleased his side are still in the tie.

“We are not celebrating anything yet.We are speaking about one goal swinging it all again,” said Rowett.

“I’ve been here before when you sense that you’ve got a chance then someone slaps you on the backside.”

Bradford boss Phil Parkinson, meanwhile, was releived to still be in the tie. He said:“After the way we played in the first half I’m glad we’re only one goal behind.”