Burton Albion 1-1 Bradford City

Saturday 10 April 2010
Coca-Cola League 2
Burton Albion 1 (Harrad 82)
Bradford City 1 (Oliver 59)
Kick Off: 3.00pm
at the Pirelli Stadium

Attendance: 2648

Some resolute defending and a fine penalty save from Jon McLaughlin ensured the Bantams left their first trip to the Pirelli Stadium with a point in their pocket.

City, who remained without several key players, had to content with lively opponents who put the Bantams under pressure for large periods of the match.

On the whole though, the Bantams backline managed to shackle the Brewers attack thanks to brave and disciplined defending, with Zesh Rehman in particular putting in a captain's performance.

In a first period dominated by the home side, McLaughlin justified Peter Taylor's faith in selecting him by diving to his left to save Greg Pearson's penalty.

The penalty save capped a composed and assured display by the rookie keeper, who was making only his third start after nearly two years with the football club.

City took full advantage of the young keeper's heroics just before the hour mark.

As Gavin Grant's shot deflected up into the air, Luke Oliver, who played the whole match as an attacker, was on hand to loop a header over the stranded Artur Krysiak.

The Brewers responded and set about forcing City onto the back foot in search of an equaliser.

With eight minutes to go, they found it when Shaun Harrad was left unmarked to finish past McLaughlin from close range.

Despite the late timing of the goal, City shouldn't feel too downbeat leaving the Pirelli Stadium having gained a point from a match where the home side threw everything at them.

As well as McLaughlin's promotion in the starting line up ahead of Matt Glennon, Taylor also brought Grant and Jonathan Bateson back into the starting line up.

With Bateson at right back and Rehman moved across to centre half, it freed Oliver to use his height advantage up front.

Oliver was supported by Grant and Gareth Evans from wide positions as the Bantams lined up in a 4-3-3 formation at a sun-drenched Pirelli Stadium.

The makeshift striker grew into his new role as the match went on and managed to at least offer City some physical presence in attack.

Clearly keen to bounce back from disappointing results over Easter, Burton started the match with a bright tempo in the Derbyshire sunshine.

Although the home side were edging possession in the early exchanges, it was the Bantams who actually registered the first shot on goal.

Evans managed to latch himself onto Steven O'Leary's lofted through pass and get behind the Burton backline.

The Bantams striker's options were limited as the bounce of the ball took him away from goal and Krysiak was able to get his body behind his angled drive.

Unfortunately, Evans effort would prove City's only realistic goalscoring opportunity of the half as the Bantams struggled to get their attacking game going in the opening period.

City's own stopper,McLaughlin was called into action for the first time of the afternoon when he kept out Harrad's fiercely struck near post effort.

Within a minute though, the Bantams keeper was facing up to a Pearson spot kick.

O'Leary's trip on Russell Penn just inside the penalty are was spotted by referee Michael Oliver, leaving him with no option but to point to the spot.

As the City fans behind the goal feared the worst, McLaughlin came to their rescue as he guessed correctly to dive to his left and palm Pearson's effort away.

Harrad's clever turn allowed him to beat Rehman moments later as the home side remained on top despite the penalty miss.

Burton's top scorer used his yard of space to fire for goal, but his effort could only whistle just past the far post.

The home side continued to make most of the running in the first period, but City's defence stood strong to keep things level at the interval.

McLaughlin was only called into action once more during the half when he easily held onto Russell Penn's header.

To their credit, City improved at the start of the second period and managed to grab the lead just before the hour mark.

Grant seized on a loose Tony James to gallop into the open space in front of him.

As the Bantams winger reached the edge of the Burton area, he let rip with a shot that was deflected high into the sun-filled sky.

Oliver was first onto the loose ball and managed to complete the move by heading over Krysiak and into his far corner.

Evans cut inside and forced Krysiak to palm his fiercely struck effort around the post as City pushed for another.

As the half progressed though, Burton forced City further back and McLaughlin was called upon more often.

Harrad's hanging header in particular caused the City keeper some concern as he had to produce a smart save to tip the ball over the bar.

Burton were continuing to test the Bantams defence as the match entered into its final exchanges.

Krysiak was now virtually a spectator as, despite another Evans drive, the majority of the action was happening in City's final third.

Luke O'Brien was brought on to offer Robbie Threlfall some defensive support against Burton's tricky right winger Cleveland Taylor as the Bantams looked to hold on.

City had stood up strong to everything the Brewers had thrown at them up until this point, but just as City could possibly dream of three points, Burton struck.

Full back Paul Boertien pushed forward to fizz a cross over to Harrad, who alarmingly had plenty of time to flick the ball over the advancing McLaughlin to level things up.

City could have easily crumbled at this point, but they held firm and dealt with Burton's remaining attacks with a minimum of fuss - apart from one late header.

Substitute James O'Brien had to be on hand to hook James header off the line from a late corner to help secure City's point.