REPORT: Andy Cook rescues point for Bantams against Barrow

THE pre-match rhetoric about falling on the wrong side of tight margins had been echoed by both camps.

Two teams too near the bottom of the form table were desperate to get their win column going again at Valley Parade tonight.

Talk about going close does not cut it in a business where you rise and fall on results alone.

Andy Cook – who else – salvaged a point from City having earlier picked up a costly booking that will see him miss the next game.

But a draw against a team without a win in eight in the league is nothing to shout about – and the disgruntled reaction of the home faithful spoke volumes.

This was no performance or outcome to inspire.

It is five winless games for City now and Graham Alexander, watching from the stand as he served a one-game touchline ban, will know exactly how the public felt.

With Neill Byrne beginning his three-game ban, Brad Halliday reverted to the right of the back three with Lewis Richards fit enough to start at left wing-back.

There were also two changes in midfield with Alex Pattison and Clarke Oduor replacing Jamie Walker and Bobby Pointon. Ciaran Kelly was a welcome addition to the bench – his first involvement since an ankle operation in mid-September.

Barrow had led the league after winning five of their first seven games but they had not tasted victory since October 5, taking just six points from 10 outings.

The Bluebirds scored here last season before City had even touched the ball and looked to start fast again as Andy Dallas drove over the bar.

Olly Sanderson saw a header saved from Cook’s cross but the early exchanges were played in front a very subdued atmosphere.

Ref Thomas Parsons booked 11 players and sent off Daniel Oyegoke at Crawley last season – and brandished yellows at both City strikers inside the first quarter.

Cook’s annoyance at being man-handled by Chris Stokes and getting nothing for it saw him lunge at Dean Campbell for the loose ball. The booking was his fifth – and means he will be suspended for the lunchtime visit to Crewe on Saturday.

Grumbling at the official aside, there was not much to warm the cockles in the bitter cold.

City worked Richards into a couple of promising attacking positions but the deliveries lacked the conviction to concern keeper Paul Farman.

Jay Benn, on the other flank, seemed reluctant to go forward – to the audible frustration of Alexander in his perch in the stand.

Jack Shepherd slid across in front of his own goal to cut out Ben Jackson’s low cross but it was low-quality stuff for the shivering audience. No wonder it was so quiet.

Richie Smallwood was trying to get City going but too often players ran into blind alleys and it was Barrow who looked more comfortable on the ball – without offering any threat themselves.

Olly Sanderson's early header flew straight at Paul Farman (Image: Thomas Gadd)

The angst in the crowd surfaced when Brad Halliday and Benn pontificated too long near the box without getting a cross away. Boos sounded as the ball rolled harmlessly through to Farman.

It had been a tough watch but the second half began with a defiant bang of the drum in the Kop hoping to lift City a level or two.

Barrow screamed for a foul as Alex Newby went down under Shepherd’s challenge as he tried to go clear but the official was unmoved.

But there was no stopping the visitors on 58 minutes as they stunned the crowd with the breakthrough goal.

Jackson crossed to the near post where Robbie Gotts nipped in to force the ball past Walker.

A stunned City responded with a four-man substitution, Baldwin among those coming on as Alexander rolled the dice.

They were having plenty of the ball but there was no obvious upturn in performance – and Farman remained untroubled.

Cook, who had not had a sight of goal up to that point, tried an ambitious attempt from well outside the box which briefly raised spirits.

But Barrow were happy to eat up the clock – Farman going in the book for taking too long over a goal kick.

There were just 10 minutes of the 90 to go when City got their lifeline from the most predictable source.

Pointon, one of the four subs, danced around his man and hung up a cross for Cook to nod firmly beyond Farman.

City now sensed a late win but Cook was unable to control another Pointon cross before Smallwood’s shot was deflected wide.

But there was a scare when Barrow sub Connor Mahoney got goal-side of Richards but could not get a full contact on Jackson’s deep cross.