Millwall 3 Bradford City 3

TAKE 1911 out of the equation and the FA Cup and City have barely been on nodding terms down the years.

Those of a certain age will remember the run to the quarter-finals 39 years ago and Southampton’s dubious free-kick routine at Valley Parade.

There was Brian Mitchell beating Spurs – as repeated on the BBC’s nostalgia spot over the weekend – and, of course, that goal from Chris Waddle at Everton.

But otherwise, City’s recent history in the competition has been a parade of disappointments and very early departures.

The fact that Saturday was only the second time in 11 years that they had got as far as the third round spelled that out.

And while the wait goes on for a place in the last 32 – not achieved since 2000 when the then Premier Leaguers were ingloriously dumped by a Gillingham team two divisions below – the FA Cup can at least be mentioned again in these parts without eyes being rolled.

For the rip-roaring encounter at The Den was what the famous old cup is meant to be all about. The hoary old clichés and clips from yesteryear are based around cracking encounters like the one with Millwall.

It was a glorious throwback to the halcyon days, if they ever existed in the first place, when teams would attack, attack and attack some more.

Phil Parkinson has promised there would be no “shutting up shop” against the Championship strugglers. He asked his players to go toe-to-toe – and they certainly did that in a 90-minute slugfest.

Just over 1,000 City fans backed them all the way – a remarkable turn-out given the difficulty of a journey which saw many caught up by an accident that shut the M11.

A lot were still coming in well after the game kicked off. Other unfortunates could not get there at all because they were marooned on the motorway.

Parkinson was staggered by the number who did make it; he was not so surprised by the way his players proved a match for a team from the division above.

Like 2012, the last time City’s interest in the FA Cup had stayed alive as long as January, the draw away to Championship opponents was not a promising one.

Unlike Watford on that occasion, the six goals on Saturday were shared equally. City were well worth having a second crack at Ian Holloway’s Lions next week.

Parkinson had prepped his players with all the facts. In the pre-match briefing, he trotted out the lines about 15 years since they made the fourth round and that 1976 was the last occasion when they had won three or more FA Cup ties in the same season.

Billy Knott did not need any more motivation. His had been the only genuinely positive reaction when the draw was made; a lifelong West Ham fan getting the chance to stick it up their traditionally bitter rivals.

And how close he came to doing that with an effervescent performance in that “number ten” role where he had sparkled against Notts County the week before.

Taking the confidence on from that game, Knott was a constant figure whenever the Bantams crossed into enemy territory. Cheered on by his customary fan club of family and friends from Essex, he relished the responsibility of chief Lion-tamer.

Knott made an immediate impact from the game’s first corner as City jumped on Millwall’s fragile mindset.

James Hanson won the battle for Alan Sheehan’s set-piece and the midfielder whipped in from close range.

The home stands may have been sparsely populated but the reaction to their own players quickly bordered on the poisonous. With only two wins from 19 before Saturday, the punters were in no mood for patience.

Andy Halliday should have stoked up their anger but flashed a volley over from eight yards – another decent scoring opportunity gone begging from the Scot.

But Millwall regrouped and mustered their forces as the half progressed. They leaned heavily on the left flank, where attack-minded full back Matthew Briggs and winger Lee Martin ganged up on Stephen Darby.

The equaliser came from that side as Martin’s cross was delicately glanced home by the diving Scott McDonald. Now we had a cup tie on our hands.

Millwall’s fans got off their team’s backs and there was a brief lull in City’s ambitions. But they saw it through to half-time and came again, home keeper David Forde recovering from a flap at Filipe Morais’ cross by clinging on to Knott’s follow-up volley on his line.

Millwall were having more of the play and struck again midway through the half. Morais appeared to be fouled before McDonald took the ball away from Rory McArdle and delivered a glorious cross with the outside of his right foot for veteran Ricardo Fuller to finish.

City found themselves behind for the first time since the unbeaten run was hatched at Halifax. Could they respond?

The answer was emphatic and took only four minutes.

Hanson’s shot blooped off Alan Dunne and on to the bar before dropping straight down to catch Sid Nelson unawares and deflect off the young centre half into the net.

The equaliser may have come with a huge slice of good fortune but City’s spirit deserved the break. For some of the fans behind that goal, there may have been a touch of karma given the roughhouse antics of Nelson and his team in last season’s FA Youth Cup at Valley Parade.

The pendulum swung once more as City went in search of further success. A fine team move ended with Morais atoning for his part in Millwall’s second by teeing up Knott for a nonchalantly-dispatched finish.

But City were pegged back again just six minutes from time after a moment of naivety from Jason Kennedy.

Rather than taking one for the team, he allowed Magaye Gueye to surge unchecked from the halfway line.

The Millwall sub fed Martin by the penalty area and he crossed for an unmarked Fuller to coolly convert from 12 yards.

So there was disappointment tinged with the satisfaction at playing a full part in an end-to-end afternoon.

Parkinson said: “We’ve done Bradford proud again with the way we played. We’d love to have got through but we have another opportunity.

“That’ll be another chance for us to show this wasn’t a one off. I’m confident we can.”

Millwall v City picture gallery