City 1, Burton Albion 1

Jake Speight, just like City, has had nothing to shout about this season.

The £25,000 price tag has weighed heavily around the striker’s neck during a campaign when his side have not been able to buy a goal.

But his first successful strike in open play for eight months was potentially worth its weight in gold for the Bantams last night.

The substitute’s 75th-minute equaliser saved a point, denied Burton the opportunity of leapfrogging them in the survival fight and, most importantly, stretched the advantage on second-bottom Barnet to seven.

Small mercies and all that – But after the way this dog of a term has gone, City will take anything.

The £1 ticket offer had swelled the crowd figure by another 3,000 but it was the 164 away fans, paying the full whack, who should have gone away celebrating.

Burton had been the better side and shown more composure in a game that Peter Jackson had described as “must-win”. Looking at the bigger picture, though, it was all about City not losing. To that extent, it was just about job done.

The trapdoor is not shut yet but only two sides – Exeter in 2003 and Oxford three years later – have gone down with 48 points or more since the second relegation spot was introduced eight seasons ago.

On paper at least, there had appeared to be a more robust look about the City side after the Southend surrender.

Jackson had some options to choose from and Omar Daley, back early from his Rotherham loan spell, was one of five changes from Friday night’s flop.

Lewis Hunt was another after the club agreed to honour the right back’s contract clause. After conceding seven goals in the two games without him, it was fair to say their hand had been forced by circumstances.

Darren Moore got a big reception from the home fans before kick-off. There was an even bigger roar as Daley immediately glided past three tackles on a sideways run that gained few yards but raised the atmosphere.

Michael Flynn tapped the ball in the net from another Daley dart but the flag was raised for offside against the Jamaican. Daley’s early brightness went on with a nutmeg through Darren Corbett’s legs but his cross went behind.

But the first chance fell to Burton on 15 minutes, Greg Pearson making a poor contact 15 yards out as Calvin Zola sniffed around for a rebound from recalled goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley.

The visitors then broke dangerously three-on-three with Pearson’s surging run but Zola – a striker Peter Taylor tried to sign earlier in the season – miskicked horribly.

City’s nerves were evident as Burton continued to press and Jimmy Phillips shot over. The edginess was understandable but Steve Williams nearly settled home minds with the first proper go at goal after 26 minutes.

Daley’s pace won a free-kick and the centre half met the inswinging set-piece from Gareth Evans with a firm header which Adam Legzdins did well to keep out. David Syers fired the rebound back across goal and just beyond the lunging James Hanson.

Williams’ defensive partner Luke Oliver then played his own part at the other end with an important block to deflect a Phillips drive wide of the target.

City were looking to get the ball to Daley at every opportunity and he was giving Corbett a run for his money. Another trademark dash ended with a comical fall from the winger but the fans still responded with warm applause.

It was easy to see why the Bantams saw Daley’s jet heels as the route to success. Burton’s leg-weary troops were playing for the tenth midweek in a row – an astonishing 20th game in the space of 67 days.

But any fatigue on the visitors’ part was more than matched by City’s edginess. Possession was being wasted too easily and Hanson, back defending a Burton corner, coughed the ball up with a careless pass straight to Zola for a 25-yard effort that Pidgeley turned behind.

City did not help themselves with the number of free-kicks they were giving away inside their own half. Sooner or later, Burton were going to get one right – and they did just before the break.

The Brewers got the reward for their growing confidence with a well-worked goal three minutes from half-time. Phillips floated a precise cross over Oliver and skipper John McGrath stole in past Flynn at the back post to bury a header past Pidgeley.

City needed an instant pick-me-up and Evans was close to providing it in stoppage time with a jabbed shot which just went the wrong side of the post.

But given what was at stake, chances had been at a premium. For all Daley’s enthusiastic running, City had struggled to deliver that final ball to apply real pressure to a Burton back four who had kept the home strikeforce comfortably in check.

“Sing your hearts out for the lads,” piped up the Kop at the start of the second half but the discomfort continued. Burton won another early corner – their eighth – and Pearson bundled it wide of Pidgeley’s near post.

Jackson, arms tightly crossed, fretted on the touchline as McGrath blazed high and wide from another corner.

City’s interim boss looked to juggle things about ten minutes in by replacing Flynn with Speight. As the substitute settled in, Syers tried to replicate McGrath’s earlier effort as he glanced wide a deep free-kick from Robbie Threlfall.

Speight then cleverly peeled away from Tony James before drilling in a shot which had Legzdins scrambling across his goal.

Another effort from the substitute two minutes later did not carry the same menace but at least he was prepared to have a go.

There was still no sign of any concerted pressure on the visitors. Daley had been starved of action and, when they did sense an opening in the box, Evans’ close-range drive foundered against the immense figure of Moore.

A hopeful overhead kick from Syers with 20 minutes left was only the second on target. It was becoming a familiar story.

But five minutes later and City grabbed a lifeline. Syers’ throw-in found its way into the box, Hanson flicked on and Speight span and smashed the ball home from six yards.

He made a bee-line straight for Jackson on the touchline in a mixture of joy and relief.

It was the little striker’s first goal in open play since August – and could not have come at a more precious moment.

But Burton were far from finished and City survived a double scare seven minutes from time. Phillips saw his shot turned onto the bar in a frantic melee and Pearson’s follow-up was blocked.

Pearson threatened once again and held off two defenders before sending a curler inches wide of the far post. Boss Paul Peschisolido, sitting in the press box while serving a touchline ban, slammed the desk in frustration.

He knows Burton had missed their opportunity. For City, at least, the safety mark is in sight.

Attendance: 13,814