Bradford 2 Bristol R 2: Flynn keeps his nerve and proves spot on as City earn late point

Phil Parkinson praised the courage of Michael Flynn, whose stoppage time penalty earned Bradford a deserved point in the new manager’s first home match in charge.
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Sep 2011, 10:20 BST

Parkinson said: “We don’t have a designated penalty taker, but I like Michael Flynn’s technique. He was playing very well and was confident to take the penalties. You need a certain amount of courage to step up to the plate and he showed that today.”

City are becoming late goal specialists. Substitute Ross Hannah scored a stoppage-time equaliser at Morecambe and, this time, it was Flynn, who levelled with his second penalty in the third minute of stoppage time after on-loan Hull striker Jamie Devitt had his shirt tugged by Lee Brown.

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Rovers manager Paul Buckle disputed both penalties, describing the first as ‘dubious’ and the second ‘incredible’, but Bradford deserved a point after dominating large parts of the match.

Their best first-half chance came on the half hour when some smart inter-passing down the left between new signings Devitt and former Charlton winger Kyel Reid ended with Reid crossing to Ritchie Jones, whose goalbound header was turned over by Scott Bevan.

Rovers went ahead against the run of play in the 40th minute when Matt Gill crossed over the head of City’s third home debutant, Matt Duke, and striker Matt Harrold ran in behind the goalkeeper to head the ball home.

Bradford’s first equaliser after 64 minutes was the result of relentless pressure. Devitt’s shot was blocked but when it rebounded to him, Harrold tripped him and Flynn equalised from the spot.

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Eliot Richards put the visitors back in front with a 25-yard shot into the top corner after 78 minutes, but City kept going and were rewarded with their penalty.

Bradford City: Duke, Moore (Stewart 84), Branston, Oliver, Threlfall, Mitchell (Hannah 61), Jones, Flynn, Reid (Compton 69), Devitt, Hanson. Unused substitutes: McLaughlin, Hunt.

Bristol Rovers: Bevan, Woodards, Bolger, Virgo, Brown, Gill (Anthony 51), Campbell, W Brown, L Brown, Harrold, McGleish (Anyinash 64). Unused substitutes: Smith, Carayol, Zebroski.

Referee: N Miller (County Durham).

Man of the match: Jamie Devitt.

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