CHELTENHAM 1 CITY 1

CITY broke the duck of the “cursed” blue kit but the winning run came to an end with a draw in an entertaining night at Cheltenham.

It was only the second point that the Bantams had managed this season not wearing claret and amber – but it felt like two dropped after bossing the second half.

Neill Byrne scored for the second time in successive games but for once getting the opening goal did not lead to a victory that would have put them in the top three.

Cheltenham fought back quickly – and then City could not turn plenty of possession and a host of corners into a decisive moment.

Graham Alexander had to make two changes from the line-up that beat Gillingham.

Clarke Oduor joined Tyreik Wright on the sidelines, which meant a first start for Bobby Pointon since the Harrogate game. Lewis Richards, who had replaced Wright on Saturday, kept the left wing-back role.

Olly Sanderson returned to the bench after missing out on the squad for the last three games. City named two keepers among the subs to fill the seven slots – with Zac Hadi appearing on a league team sheet for the first time.

Cheltenham was where it had all started for Andy Cook in City colours.

His opening two goals for the club were scored behind closed doors at Whaddon Road in February 2021 – on a day when many fans were questioning why he was picked ahead of Danny Rowe.

City’s first return since saw them pitted against Michael Flynn in the home dug-out.

The Welshman’s affection for the club he used to captain remains undiminished. But the Cheltenham chief put that to one side once again in his eighth managerial encounter against them.

Another former Bantam, George Miller, thought he had given Flynn’s side a second-minute lead as he turned home Luke Young’s whipped cross. But the assistant’s flag spared the Bantams.

City went straight to the other end where Richards was dragged down by Lewis Young right on the corner of the box – and the home defender was first into the book.

But the visitors delivered the opening blow on seven minutes from another free-kick. Richie Smallwood put it into the mix where Byrne buried the header.

They suddenly can’t stop scoring from set-pieces!

Cheltenham tried to hit straight back but Jordan Thomas slid a shot straight into Sam Walker.

They did level on 15 minutes with a long-range rocket from Young. A corner came out to the midfielder 30 yards out and he let fly through all the bodies and past the diving City keeper.

Cheltenham’s tails were up and Walker was called upon again to turn away another fierce effort from Joel Colwill from inside the box.

City were being penned in their own half as the hosts continued a shoot-on-sight policy with Thomas the next to test Walker.

Richards was proving an effective outlet when City did get on the ball but the strikers were struggling to get into the game.

Cheick Diabate had half a chance to jump on the defenders’ goal-scoring bandwagon but lofted a half-volley over the bar from Brad Halliday’s long throw.

City forced a flurry of corners early in the second half with Cook’s header turned behind by Day. Interestingly, Cheltenham left three up front during that spell to keep the visitors honest.

Pointon had not done enough in the first 45 minutes but was beginning to get busy and more effective.

And he was close to rewarding City’s bright start with a second goal as he swapped passes with Calum Kavanagh to burst into the box and smash a cross-shot against the Cheltenham bar.

He was then denied by Day as the blue shirts continued to push forward.

The visitors won seven corners in the first 16 minutes after the restart as they assumed control of the contest. But it had not produced another breakthrough.

Cheltenham then broke out menacingly but Miller’s attempted curler was always heading wide.

Kavanagh’s ambitious overhead attempt did not threaten before his shot from Cook’s knockdown was smothered by a diving block.

That was the striker’s last involvement before he made way for Tyler Smith.

But it was Pointon who came close again with an effort from just inside the box that Day beat away.

Walker was back in action to turn Ethon Archer’s shot round the post and Matty Taylor caused some panic with a close-range shot from the corner.

Diabate, the only City centre half not one booking away from a ban, went into the book with Harrison Sohna for an off-the-ball tussle.

Smith and Walker had shots blocked but the second goal would not come.