Bradford and Man City still sinking

Shaun Goater breaks Bradford hearts

Bradford City 2-2 Manchester City

Both teams sinking in the quicksand at the bottom of the Premier League desperately needed a win at Valley Parade.

Manchester City had not lost a Premier League match away from home this year.

Bradford had lost their last five home games.

For Bradford, Carbone was a lively figure down the left-hand side, creating chances that were too rarely capitalised on.

We have now lost more ground on Middlesbrough, but it's no good worrying about other sides if you don't win yourself

  Joe Royle
Manchester City manager

But he also had to contend with Kanchelskis, who shadowed him too much for Carbone's liking.

Kanchelskis won Manchester City's first corner 20 minutes into the game, but Danny Tiatto struck it short.

But City were to stay in Bradford's danger zone after they were awarded a free-kick near the touchline to the left of Bradford's goal.

Carbone was a constant threat

Kanchelskis stepped up to take it, crossed into the box where Steve Howey knocked it down with his head and into space where an unmarked Gerard Wiekens powered it home.

This was a desperate blow for Bradford, and for the rest of the half it was Carbone who again tried to bring Bradford back into the game all on his own.

Bradford came out hungry after the break and badgered the visitors' defence.

Jeff Whitley was brought on in place of Huckerby, but Bradford kept up the pressure.

One shot in particular demanded a save from Weaver, but they were unable to get past City's defence.

But three minutes later, Robbie Blake got the ball outside the box and dummied twice before striking a pinpoint shot to Weaver's right, just inside the post.

At least the players showed they are prepared to battle -we didn't look like a side that has given up and surrendered to relegation

  Jim Jefferies
Bradford manager

Bradford's eagerness payed off as they drew level.

But both teams knew that a draw was of no use to either of them.

With Bradford revitalised, they kept up the pressure and just five minutes later Gareth Whalley saw a shot saved by Weaver at full stretch.

Granville followed it up but it was striker Ashley Ward who found the net, giving Bradford a 2-1 lead, and a sniff of a survival chance.

With even more confidence they kept up the pressure with some ambitious cross-field passes, and Carbone produced a shot from nowhere which flew just wide.

Great escape

But 30 minutes into the second half City hit back, taking advantage of confusion in front of the Bradford goal.

After a ricochet, Shaun Goater remained just onside and escaped Robert Molenaar to nudge the ball under the Bradford keeper to equalise.

The first yellow card of the match was handed to Molenaar as Egil Ostenstad made a break for Bradford's goal, but City could not convert the free kick.

A bizarre late incident could have led to a penalty for Bradford as the City keeper grasped Ashley Ward round the neck and pulled him to the ground.

The referee decided Ward had made an earlier infringement and let play continue, much to the disapproval of the home fans.

Passions began to overflow as the match drew to a close.

But at the end of an exciting match, both sides were forced to settle for a point, which will not distance either team from relegation.

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Bradford: Walsh, McCall, Wetherall, Whalley, Blake, Ward, Carbone, Molenaar, Locke, Jacobs, Jess.
Subs: Davison, Nolan, Halle, Kerr, Jones.
Man City: Weaver, Wiekens, Goater, Kanchelskis, Tiatto, Huckerby, Dunne, Howey, Grant, Charvet, Granville.
Subs: Prior, Ostenstad, Whitley, Kennedy, Nash.
Referee: S Dunn (Bristol)