In the build-up to this game over the past week, it seemed almost impossible not to mention last years epic encounter at Prenton Park that saw the Bantams eventually triumph 5-4 in the last minute.  Not many fans expected the same level of excitement for a second successive season but this game could well have got to that same level as Rovers twice came from behind to clinch a 2-2 draw.

It was Rovers’ new look strike pairing of Chris Greenacre and Delroy Facey who grabbed the goals for the home side in response to a scorcher from Richard Edghill and a slightly easier finish for David Wetherall.

Brian Little is without the services of defender Ian Sharps for another four weeks so Carl Tremarco started his second successive game for Rovers as Goodison moved to centre-back, Roberts to his natural left-back position after returning from international duty and Tremarco on the left of midfield.

The midfield saw a further re-shuffle with the return of last seasons central partnership of Captain Jason McAteer and Mark Rankine.  Delroy Facey made his home debut alongside Chris Greenacre.

Former Rovers reserve goalkeeper Russell Howarth was between the sticks for the Bantams and the sides swapped ends before the game began, Howarth returned the applause from the Kop behind his goal.  Veteran striker Steve Claridge had to settle for a place on the bench as seven goal Dean Windass partnered Andy Cooke upfront.

McAteer gave Rovers the first chance of the evening early on but he shot wide before Dean Windass had a great chance to put the visitors in front just five minutes later but he curled his shot wide of Achterberg’s goal.

The visitors did take a lead in the 20^th minute that they perhaps just about deserved based on overall possession and what a goal it was!!!  Picking up the ball just inside the Rovers half of the field, former Manchester City player Richard Edghill ran at a rather ragged looking Rovers backline before before unleashing a 25-yard shot that had goal written all over it from the second it left his boot.  John Achterberg seemed rooted to the spot and helpless as the Bradford fans behind the goal went crazy.

Had the floodgates opened once again?  Would we see another goal flurry like we did last year?  The answer seemed increasingly likely to be yes when just three minutes after the visitors had taken the lead, Rovers pulled level. 

Sam Aiston had the ball on the right hand side but looked to have no support form his teammates.  Aiston instead ran at the defenders and managed to square the ball to Greenacre who had his back to goal but his first time pass across the area found Delroy Facey unmarked to score his first goal for Rovers at the Kop end.

Game on again but we all knew too well that there was bound to be more action to come – and we weren’t wrong.  Eight minutes before the break, the visitors took the lead for the second time on the night after some poor marking by Rovers defence at a set-piece.

Bradford won a free-kick about 30 yards out on the left hand side of the Rovers penalty area which was taken by Bridge-Wilkinson.  As the ball came into the area, the home defence failed to deal with not one but two headers across goal, the second by Dean Windass, which allowed David Wetherall to score at Prenton Park for the second year running and give Bradford a 2-1 half-time lead.

Neither side made half-time changes as Rovers looked to get back in the game from the off.  Unlike the in the first half, the majority of chances seemed to be falling to Rovers as Facey headed wide and McAteer shot high and wide around the hour mark.

An ugly incident in the Rovers penalty area saw Andy Cooke extremely fortunate not to be sent off after appearing to headbutt Ian Goodison.  Instead both players were cautioned after a consultation between the referee and his assistant.

Aiston continued to look a threat going forward for Rovers and new boy Delroy Facey was using his strength to good effect upfront as Rovers suddenly seemed more and more likely to get back into the game.

In the 71^st minute, they did finally pull level when a Chris Greenacre shot from 25 yards deflected wide for a corner from which Greenacre himself was able to poke the ball into the roof of the net after Bradford had only half cleared the corner and Tremarco had pumped the ball back into the area.

Immediately following the equaliser, Mark Rankine was replaced by Danny Harrison and shortly after, Steven Jennings replaced Carl Tremarco.  Gareth Roberts and Steven Jennings had late chances but the scores remained level which on reflection is probably the fairest outcome from this lively encounter.

The Managers Views

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