Bradford City 1, Middlesbrough 1: As theme tunes go, it was not as rousing as the A-team. But the reassuring voice of Bob Marley telling you "Don't worry about a thing" was an apt accompaniment for City's first game at Valley Parade since the financial bomb dropped.

Six days before the real stuff begins against Wolves, the Bantams were clearly happy to be back in familiar surroundings. Even if there were only 2,209 there to watch them.

Perhaps the rest are saving their cash for Sunday or maybe there are plenty who still feel put off by the rumblings that have gone on throughout the summer.

Those fans that did bother turning up saw City give one of the Premiership busiest recruiters a good run for their money. And without reading too much into a typically pre-season joust, it proved an encouraging dress rehearsal.

Middlesbrough gave debuts to big-name recruits Geremi and George Boateng as well as another outing for £8m Italian hitman Massimo Maccarone on the ground where he did so much damage in an under-21 international in March.

They all played in a first-half team which, except for the absent Juninho, was as powerful as Steve McClaren could assemble. But the boss, perched in the front row of the press box, was left banging the desk in frustration as Boro met their match in that time.

Nicky Law, too, opened the game with his strongest 11 and the one he wants to send out against Wolves providing the three impressive trialists - Gus Uhlenbeek, Andy Gray and Paul Evans - can be offered something concrete in the mean time.

It's been a black time for City and their fans since the end of last season. But going on the evidence of the friendlies, a Gray future would go some way to cheering everyone up.

Andy Gray has been the star of City's pre-season and the winger did it again last night with a goal that may not be bettered over the next nine months.

The game was ten minutes old when Andy Myers broke up a Boro attack and the ball was whisked to Gray wide on the right flank. He cut inside and found Ashley Ward, continuing his run to accept the lay-off in his stride and bending an exquisite left-footer beyond former Bantam Mark Schwarzer.

It was a fantastic effort from a player clearly hell-bent on earning a contract and the rest of his display was just as lively. From City's next attack he caught England's Gareth Southgate ball-watching and set up Danny Cadamarteri who should have done better from close range.

Then Gray showed his pace to lead the cavalry charge out of defence after smothering a Boateng free-kick on the edge of the City box. Within seconds he was up the other end to fashion another half-chance for Cadamarteri.

Uhlenbeek also caught the eye and not just because of the Beni Carbone-style white boots. The wing-back was prominent at both ends and always willing to come roaring forward to supply Gray.

Certainly if these two are signed by the end of the week it's difficult to see an opening for Juanjo, the only player of City's 20 not to get a run-out. The Spaniard was left on the bench to stew after his awful display against Farsley Celtic.

With Eoin Jess and Gary Locke on the way, the Jim Jefferies' contingent from north of the border is dwindling fast. Juanjo must be feeling the cold as well as Andy Tod whose involvement was limited to 21 minutes after half-time before he limped off with a bruised knee.

Tod had replaced Myers, last season's player of the year who was again calmness personified to defuse several dangerous situations.

Boro fielded an entirely different side for the second period which, not surprisingly, took some of the edge off proceedings.

Dean Windass was back on his old hunting ground but this was strictly the B team and Law also took the chance to shuffle his more limited pack.

But apart from a couple of slippery runs from Allan Johnston, they created few openings and wasted the ones that they did.

Six minutes from time, Gray deservedly earned the biggest cheer of the night when he was subbed and there was another generous ovation for the departure of the industrious Evans.

"The lads who have come in have done really well," said fellow midfielder Claus Jorgensen. "We're a friendly bunch but it must have been hard for them to hang their hats on Bradford with everything that has gone on. "

But City were denied their victory in the final minute when one-time terrace favourite Windass had space to drill a low shot past Aidan Davison's left hand.

CITY: Walsh (Davison 52), Uhlenbeek, Wetherall (Tod 46, Jorgensen 67), Myers (Bower 46), Emanuel (Lee 74), Gray (Fishlock 84), Lawrence, Kearney, Evans (Standing 87), Cadamarteri, Ward (Gedman 77). Sub: Juanjo.

MIDDLESBROUGH (first half): Schwarzer, Stockdale, Festa, Ehiogu, Southgate, Boateng, Geremi, Greening, Job, Whelan, Maccarone. (Second half): Crossley, Close, Parnaby, Hudson, Gulliver, Gavin, Wilkshire, Nemeth, Windass, Wilson, Johnstone.

ATTENDANCE: 2,029