City 1, Accrington 1

So the Accrington Stanley curse continues beyond John Coleman.

With Coleman, so often their nemesis, no longer in the opposition dugout, City had hoped to put this longest running of jinxes to bed.

But an equaliser in added time made it five straight draws at Valley Parade for Phil Parkinson’s side and the fourth successive 1-1 at home to Accrington.

Paul Cook carried on where Coleman had left off by thwarting Bantams ambitions – and the game boiled over after their late leveller, with Jamie Devitt and the Accrington coaching staff stirring up his old team and the fans.

Their reaction was completely over the top, jumping around and gesticulating wildly in front of the City bench before turning to taunt the supporters in the main stand.

History was against the Bantams on a night that marked the 50th anniversary of the blackest episode in Accrington’s past.

It was exactly half a century since the day when they were forced to resign from the Football League in financial ruin.

And even longer to find the last time City beat Accrington at home - October 1955.

Accrington had claimed two wins and three draws from Valley Parade visits under Coleman’s command, the last three seasons all finishing in the same deadlock. In fact, City had not won any of their last six meetings, either home or away.

Luke Oliver was the only City player who had started the defeat at the Crown Ground in August and there were just two Stanley survivors.

Craig Fagan’s tight hamstring presented an unwelcome late selection poser for Parkinson, who opted to pair Deane Smalley with Nahki Wells in attack. There was better injury news at the back, where Marcel Seip had recovered from his twisted ankle.

And the Dutchman had to be sharp on his toes to clear an early Accrington threat from Padraig Amond as the defence reacted slowly to a through ball.

Wells won two free-kicks in promising positions for City but both were driven straight into the wall.

It was Accrington – and a familiar face – who had the night’s first chance as Devitt reacted first to Kevin McIntyre’s throw-in in the box but lashed across goal.

Smalley nearly put Wells in but City had not managed to warm the crowd with any goal-mouth action in the opening quarter.

Accrington, though, threatened on the counter as Peter Murphy timed his run perfectly to take Craig Lindfield’s pass in his stride as he burst into the penalty area. But his touch was heavy and Jon McLaughlin was able to make the block.

City hit straight back with Smalley finding Wells at the near post but his shot on the turn deflected wide off Tote Nsiala.

The visitors were getting some joy on City’s right and Devitt dispossessed Rob Kozluk too easily near the byline before Luke Joyce fired high and wide. Then Lindfield’s on-target drive was headed out by Andrew Davies.

Devitt was looking an influential figure against the club where he played nine times in the first half of the season and bypassed Kozluk again before shooting wide.

City’s right back got forward to skew an effort of his own off target and Smalley showed a good turn of pace to break but his final ball for Wells was poor.

Smalley did get it right with a smart volley after Wells chested down to force the game’s first save – and a decent one it was low to his right – out of Lee Nicholls. Accrington then had the ball in the net but the flag was up for offside before Charlie Barnett hammered over McLaughlin.

But City’s keeper made sure the ball stayed out when it mattered, showing superb reactions to deny McIntyre’s inswinging free-kick. McLaughlin must have seen it late when it was whipped in through a crowd of players but just managed to turn it round the post.

The game had finally found some life as half-time approached and Kyel Reid was twice denied his first home City goal. The winger’s shot was well blocked by Nicholls before centre half Michael Liddle threw his body in the way to keep out the rebound.

But City made the vital breakthrough five minutes into the second half. Reid began the move on halfway, dodging through three tackles to work the ball from one side of the pitch to the other.

Lee Bullock clipped a pass over the top for Wells to use his pace and the Bermudian cut inside McIntyre before thumping a left-foot drive in off the underside of the bar.

The relief around Valley Parade was evident, although hearts were quickly in mouths when Reid miskicked trying to clear from defence and then tripped Lindfield, who had picked off the loose ball. The foul looked perilously close to being inside the area but referee Phil Gibbs gave the free-kick rather than a penalty.

Ricky Ravenhill’s pull on Devitt on the halfway line proved costly as the stand-in skipper was shown his tenth yellow card of the season. It means he is now banned for the Oxford and Wimbledon games.

City almost forced a second goal as Davies got on the end of Kozluk’s deep free-kick but his header was straight into the arms of Nicholls.

The home side attacked again as Reid teased right back Danny Coid before opting to shoot instead of cross and warming the keeper’s hands at the near post.

Cook made a double switch in an attempt to get Accrington going again – and Devitt’s departure was greeted with ironic cheers from the City fans.

Smalley was forced wide as City broke again and Nicholls came out to meet him and smother the shot. The on-loan Oxford man had put in a good shift as Fagan’s understudy.

Accrington were furious when City played on while Kurtis Guthrie lay on the ground after a challenge with Luke Oliver. Reid and Wells linked well on the halfway line to send the winger scampering away but the ball took a horrible bobble and his cross lofted into the Kop.

Stanley’s frustration was clear in Liddle’s ugly lunge on Ravenhill, which earned him a booking. But they were still in the game and Seip was at full pelt to rob the pacy Micah Evans on the break.

Smalley boiled over after being caught late on the touchline by Nsiala, jumping straight up to grab the big defender before other players raced over. Both players were carded.

It was Smalley’s last involvement and he was replaced by Ross Hannah, going off to a well-deserved ovation after his best performance in a City shirt.

Hannah thought he should have had a penalty straight away from Liddle’s challenge but Gibbs was unmoved by the appeals.

But there was a twist to come in the four minutes of stoppage time. McIntyre whipped in a corner and substitute Will Hatfield volleyed in low from ten yards out.

The equaliser sparked wild celebrations among the Accrington bench and they spilled on to the edge of the pitch, with Devitt in the thick of things in front of the City dugout.

And City assistant boss Steve Parkin had to be restrained after something was said by one of the opposition.

Attendance: 9,379