Bradford City 1 Bolton Wanderers 1 - Danny Rowe claims stoppage-time equaliser at Valley Parade

DANNY ROWE produced a stunning finish in the third minute of stoppage time to rescue a point for Bradford City in a dramatic draw with Bolton Wanderers at Valley Parade.
DELIGHT: Danny Rowe wheels away after scoring a stoppage-time equaliser for Bradford City. Picture: Simon Hulme.DELIGHT: Danny Rowe wheels away after scoring a stoppage-time equaliser for Bradford City. Picture: Simon Hulme.
DELIGHT: Danny Rowe wheels away after scoring a stoppage-time equaliser for Bradford City. Picture: Simon Hulme.

The Bantams five-game unbeaten run looked like it was coming to an end as Bolton were almost celebrating seven victories on the spin. The two sides, who both have hopes of earning promotion, met at Valley Parade top of the form table.

Nathan Delfouneso's 83rd-minute goal gave the away side the lead after they had dominated most of the second half.

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Their pressure had finally told as Eoin Doyle's deflected shot looped over Sam Hornby in the Bradford goal for Delfouneso - who had only been on the pitch four minutes - to chest it over the line from a yard out.

Matt Gilks produced a stunning save moments later to deny Clayton Donaldson with a header.

However, the Bantams were celebrating their equaliser as Levi Sutton hooked the ball into the box from a cleared corner for Rowe to smash into the top corner and past Gilks.

It has been over 12 months since the Bantams played in front of their supporters and the roar from the home bench as the ball crashed into the net was almost loud enough to compensate as the players celebrated.

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It was a positive start from both sides as Bradford caught Bolton on the break before a Bantams corner moments later resulted in an attack from the visitors, with former City player Doyle shooting well over.

BATTLING: Andy Cook and Alex Baptiste challenge for possession. Picture: Simon Hulme.BATTLING: Andy Cook and Alex Baptiste challenge for possession. Picture: Simon Hulme.
BATTLING: Andy Cook and Alex Baptiste challenge for possession. Picture: Simon Hulme.

The same man was almost presented with a golden chance soon after but a ball across the face of goal was just out of his reach.

The Bantams' first decent opening came courtesy of Andy Cook who received a pass from Callum Cooke and did well to create space just inside the area but couldn't direct his effort on target.

The striker got in behind the Wanderers defence just after the half hour but a firm challenge from Ricardo Almeida Santos put the ball behind for a corner, from which Niall Canavan headed over from a decent position.

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It was an assured first-half display from the hosts' defence, with Paudie O'Connor producing some strong challenges.

Bolton looked threatening on the break with goalkeeper Gilks pulling off some quick pieces of distribution to try and catch the Bantams short at the back.

In the early stages of the second half, Hornby made a smart save down to his right to turn Dapo Afolayan's shot behind for a corner.

Bolton must have wondered how they weren't ahead after a relentless spell of pressure just after the hour.

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Afolayan fired a ferocious volley toward goal but it couldn't get through a host of Bradford bodies before Almeida Santos then found himself with an opening on the edge of the six-yard box but a brilliant reaction save from Hornby kept it at 0-0.

One of the best chances of the game then fell to the unmarked Doyle who nodded a header wide, as the Bantams breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, a chaotic final 15 minutes ensued as the game finished with a point apiece, in a result that Bradford will feel is one point gained rather than two lost.

Bradford City: Hornby; A O'Connor, P O'Connor, Canavan, Wood; Watt; Vernam (Clarke 70), Sutton, Cooke (Rowe 70), Crankshaw (Stevens 82); Cook (Donaldson 82). Unused substitutes: O'Donnell, Cousin-Dawson, Scales.

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Bolton Wanderers: Gilks; Jones, Almedia Santos, Baptiste, John; Williams, Lee; Isgrove (Ghanhoua 87), Sarcevic (Delfouneso 79), Afolayan; Doyle (Miller 87). Unused substitutes: Tutte, Maddison, Brockbank, Thomason.

Referee: L Doughty (Lancashire)

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