Port Vale 1 Bradford 1: Debutant Jamie Proctor rescues City after Lee Evans sees red

The Bantams found themselves behind after just two minutes when Ajay Leitch-Smith netted the opener for the Valiants.

Leitch-Smith also spurned two further chances in the opening 10 minutes.

A red card for Lee Evans’s rash challenge on Anthony Grant early in the second half made things worse, but City debutant Jamie Proctor made an instant impact by scoring the equaliser on 65 minutes.

“We had the setback of the sending-off, but we responded brilliantly and I’m so pleased we got back in the game,” said Parkinson.

“I thought the red card was a poor tackle and as soon as I saw it I knew it was a sending-off. He let his team-mates down, but on the plus side it was a great response from the lads.”

Parkinson’s introduction of Mark Marshall proved a master stroke.

The former Valiant produced an excellent cross to find Proctor, who headed home the equaliser, just a day after completing a loan move from Fleetwood.

“I thought his (Proctor’s) all-round game was outstanding; he held the ball up and won headers and put in a proper No 9 performance,” said Parkinson.

“It was a terrific goal, the way he switched play and had the desire to get in the six-yard box. I’m really pleased with him.”

Port Vale: Alnwick, Yates, Duffy, McGivern, Dickinson, Dodds (Moore73), Grant, Foley (Brown 86), Kelly, Hooper (Daniel 73), Leitch-Smith. Unused substitutes: Neal, Purkiss, Inniss, Campion,

Bradford City: Williams, Darby, McArdle, Burke, Meredith, Evans, Liddle (Marshall 45), McMahon, Reid (Routis 89), Clarke, Proctor (Davies 78). Unused substitutes: Cracknell, Morris, Leigh, Routis, James.

Referee: L Swabey (Devon).

Man of the match: Jamie Proctor.