Bradford City 1 Hereford 1: Fans cash in as Syers comes to the rescue for Parkinson’s men

The crowd, taking advantage of the club’s £1 ticket offer, created a super atmosphere but they could not inspire City to victory in a scrappy match as the Bantams were forced to settle for their fourth consecutive home draw after going behind in the 82nd minute.

Parkinson had appealed for patience and Hereford did their best to frustrate under-strength Bradford before Byron Anthony headed them into the lead from Delroy Facey’s cross after the defence had failed to clear Tom Barkhuizen’s long throw.

Syers inspired Bradford’s fight back and when Kenny Lunt cleared his header off the line to concede a corner, he scored the equaliser with a header from fellow substitute Will Atkinson’s flag kick in the 88th minute.

City almost claimed victory in the five minutes of stoppage time.Winger Kyel Reid, who had tormented the visitors, was brought down just outside the area by Ben Purkiss, who was sent off for a second yellow card and, when Hereford failed to clear Reid’s free-kick, left-back Marcel Seip was presented with the chance to win the match. However, his shot lacked power and David Cornell saved.

Parkinson, who thought City ought to have had two penalties, said: “We knew they would make it difficult for us, but I thought we did enough to win the game and the performance warranted three points.

“We switched off for their goal, but we produced a great response, scored the equaliser and we could have won it at the end. The crowd were tremendous.”

Bradford City: McLaughlin, Kozluk, Davies, Bullock, Seip, Smalley (Atkinson 81), Jones, Ravenhill, Flynn (Syers 64), Reid, Wells (Hannah 88). Unused substitutes: Annerson, Fry.

Hereford United: Cornell, Purkiss, Clist, Anthony, Evans, Purdie, Featherstone, Lunt (Pell 88), Taylor (Colbeck 70), Barkhuizen, Facey. Unused substitutes: Bartlett, Arquin, Elder.

Referee: A Haines (Tyne and Wear).

Man of the match: Kyel Reid.