Fleetwood 2 Bradford C 2: Bantams star faces fight to make it to Wembley

With an itinerary that had seen the Bantams play 41 games by the end of January – an unheard of tally for a team in the Premier League, never mind the basement division – the biggest challenge for Phil Parkinson has been keeping his troops fresh in a punishing schedule packed full of midweek games.

However, with City’s last League action before the trip to Fleetwood having come three weeks earlier and their other outings during that time being two Cup encounters, the last of which was on January 22, the 1,400 travelling fans could have been forgiven for thinking their team would struggle to find a decent rhythm on the west coast.

For all but the last 30 seconds of the first half, those fears became reality as a sluggish Bradford were outplayed to such an extent that the only consolation for the noisy band of away fans was that Fleetwood were only one goal ahead.

But then, once Nahki Wells had cancelled out Alan Goodall’s opener with a truly exquisite free-kick, the Bantams were transformed and by the final whistle were left bemoaning two contentious penalty decisions.

Captain Gary Jones said: “The way we started, we looked like a team who had not played for three weeks. We just never got going in the first half.

“They scored a goal that really disappointed us because we are usually quite decent from set-pieces. We went to sleep.

“By the end, though, I thought it was a case of two points dropped rather than one gained. We dominated after half-time.”

After a slow start, the game burst into life on 21 minutes when Fleetwood went ahead through a bullet header from an unmarked Goodall as the visitors were caught napping by the excellent delivery of Gareth Evans.

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of the goal was that City had just been given a major let-off by Matt Duke, who had pulled off a fantastic save to deny Junior Brown’s shot on the turn.

For the rest of the half, it was a similar story with only Duke – and some woeful finishing by Fleetwood – preventing Bradford from falling further behind.

Jamie Allen missed the best chance when heading over on 36 minutes despite being left free inside the six-yard area to meet Goodall’s flighted cross.

The Fleetwood striker tried to make amends a minute later with a smart turn and shot but Duke was equal to it before Jamille Matt fired inches over from 20 yards.

At that stage, City seemed badly in need of the half-time whistle to blow but Wells had other ideas with a stunning free-kick on the stroke of the interval that left Scott Davies rooted to the spot.

The equaliser sparked City into life with the Bantams taking just seven minutes to go ahead after the interval.

A long ball out of defence by Carl McHugh was the catalyst, creating sufficient confusion between Shaun Beeley and Brown to allow Ryan Dickson, on for the injured Rory McArdle, to race clear before finishing with aplomb.

Jones then had a 20-yard shot that flew inches wide, and Beeley man-handled Wells to the floor for what seemed a certain penalty only for referee Tim Robinson to wave play on.

It was a big call and one that Bradford were left further incensed by on 75 minutes when the official pointed to the spot at the other end for handball against James Hanson.

“The penalty was harsh,” said Jones.

“Sometimes, you get them and then on other occasions you don’t.

“Initially, Dukey came out to block the ball and James Hanson raised his hands just to prevent going over him. The ball then ricochet up and hit him on the arm. It was so harsh.”

Once the inevitable protests had died down, Jon Parkin duly stepped forward to fire a shot under Duke and set up a frantic finale that saw both sides go close to a winner.

For City, Andy Gray just failed to reach a cross from Wells and at the other end Ryan Crowther capitalised on a mistake by Jones only to fire inches wide.

For Bradford, the satisfaction of claiming reward from a visit to a promotion rival was tempered by the sight of McArdle leaving Highbury on crutches.

The defender is, along with Stephen Darby, one of two Bradford players to have started all seven of the club’s Capital One Cup ties and his swollen ankle, which will be scanned today, means he is already a doubt for the February 24 final against Swansea City at Wembley.

Captain Jones added: “Rory is on crutches and has one of those ski-boot things that take the pressure off. Fingers crossed, it is not too bad.

“But his ankle is really swollen at the moment and it could be a few weeks. Rory has been fantastic for us and one of the signings of the season.”

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Fleetwood Town: Davies; Beeley (McLaughlin 61), Pond, Atkinson, Goodall; Brown, McGuire, McKenna, Evans (Crowther 46); Matt, Allen (Parkin 63). Unused substitutes: Barry, Ball, Lucas, Gyorio.

Bradford City: Duke; Darby, McArdle (Dickson 41), Nelson, McHugh; Thompson (Reid 80), Jones, Doyle, Atkinson; Hanson, Wells (Gray 85). Unused substitutes: McLaughlin, Ravenhill, Reid, Connell, Hines.

Referee: T Robinson (West Sussex).