Peter Beagrie has never been lost for words.

Here's a man who can use the motto "it's good to talk" as a catchphrase.

But even the former Bantams idol was struggling for an answer when asked if his old club could make it into the top six this season.

"I don't honestly know," he admitted. "Bradford are a decent side as far as the continuity goes but whether they've got that threat to get into the play-off positions I'm not sure.

"Now that Dean Windass has hit a bit of a dry patch, you are asking the midfield players to supplement that and also the likes of Cadamarteri and Claridge to go on a run."

Beagrie and his fellow TV pundit Steve Claridge enjoyed a good bit of banter. When the Scunthorpe winger went tumbling by the touchline where Claridge was warming up, the City sub immediately dragged him to his feet.

Colin Todd will look back on Saturday as a good point to end the year and even an opportunity missed for a fifth away win of the campaign.

But this was always going to be about Beagrie and the reaction from the travelling Bantams fans to lining up against him for the first time since his shock exit.

His name was being chanted from the away end as the teams warmed up. A banner declaring "Beagrie is mint" was unfurled when the players ran out.

"We want Beagrie back" sung the supporters, who then wolf-whistled his early free-kick - before serenading him again as the shot flew harmlessly into their stand behind the goal.

"I anticipated a decent reception but the response from the fans I got throughout the game was absolutely phenomenal and I'd like to thank everybody," added Beagrie. "And I was quite impressed with Bradford. But I had a great view out there with my sandwiches and flask when I didn't have the ball!

"Danny Cadamarteri had a great game with his power and pace. I think he's lost the weight of the Christmas turkey that I struggled to carry home.

"You can't play young Claridge and young Windass up there - even I can beat them for pace - but Cadamarteri threatened a few times."

Beagrie was bursting to take charge of the game and City had to shut down the supply lines for the 40-year-old.

Unfortunately their plans were disrupted midway through the first half when his

former Manchester City team-mate Richard Edghill popped his hamstring.

Todd reshuffled with Lewis Emanuel switching from left midfield to right back for the

second time this season while Marc Bridge-Wilkinson moved out wide.

The City boss resisted the temptation to switch Bobby Petta to his natural left flank, reasoning that he would give Beagrie problems tracking back on the right.

"I felt Bobby could have won the game for us," said Todd. "But we didn't give him a lot of the ball. With Beagrie not shuffling back I thought having Bobby on the right might have been better."

Petta was certainly hungry in possession and twisted and turned before producing a cross which defender Cliff Byrne just

managed to nick away from Windass as the Scunthorpe goal beckoned.

The City striker's frustration, in open play at least, continues and he will be kicking

himself for missing a great chance early in the second half.

A one-two with the energetic Tom Kearney opened up the Iron ranks, Cadamarteri maintained the momentum to find Windass just inside the box but his finish flew over the bar. Windass in his scoring pomp would surely have buried such an invitation.

The home side may have dominated possession but there were chances on the break - and good ones at that - to clinch another

classic smash and grab.

Another driving run from Cadamarteri should have brought something as Claridge and Steve Schumacher burst expectantly into the six-yard box. It was crying out for the ball to be driven low and hard into the danger zone but instead Cadamarteri chose the wrong option and chipped to the vacant far post.

A late scramble saw Claridge denied in a scrum of bodies and, with virtually the last kick of the game, Schumacher just failed to collect the veteran's sly backheel as the ball stuck under his feet by the penalty spot.

If City had won, the credit would surely have gone to the other end where David Wetherall and Mark Bower were magnificent once again.

The classy double act dominated the backline as the free-scoring hosts were held to their first goalless stalemate since promotion.

"That partnership is as good as anybody," said Todd, who knows about these things. "They were outstanding again as they are on so many occasions."

Unfortunately the only blot was Bower's

yellow card - one of four shown to City players by referee Trevor Parkes. It was the centre half's fifth which means a ban for the Chesterfield trip - ending an unbroken run of 82 consecutive appearances for the club's player of the year.

When Scunny did pierce the silver ranks, Donovan Ricketts showed bucket hands to defy Beagrie twice, Andy Keogh and Billy Sharp.

The Jamaican got away with one flap and watched in relief when sub Matt Sparrow - who should have been sent off for a stamp on Andrew Taylor - clipped the post.

But the last word, inevitably, belonged to Beagrie.

"I went in the Bradford dressing room afterwards to tell them what a great game I thought I had - and not one of them disagreed!

"David Wetherall was in there doing the sudoku like the prefect that he is and it was nice to see some friendly faces.

"But it was a fair result and I'll give Bradford a draw for all the great times I had there."