Bradford City were nine minutes away from rounding off their home Premiership campaign with a victory before Christian Karembeu rescued a point for Boro.

The Frenchman smashed a late equaliser to frustrate the Bantams who had led since the 38th minute after Wayne Jacobs scored his second goal of the season.

City unveiled their new home strip for the first time. They took to the field in the traditional claret and amber stripes with black shorts and claret socks.

With no fresh injuries, Jim Jefferies was able to name the same side that ran Liverpool close on Tuesday night.

Most eyes were on Benito Carbone who was probably playing his final game at Valley Parade. Interestingly, Boro coach Terry Venables hinted in the morning newspapers that he was still considering the Italian, after failing to agree a deal on transfer deadline day.

Christian Karembeu was back from suspension for the visitors who still needed two more points to be sure of Premiership survival.

The first action saw Gareth Whalley caught in possession by Karembeu in the centre circle after two minutes and the Frenchman sent Hamilton Ricard away into space on the left wing. But his cross was over-hit and Eoin Jess cleared up.

Jess fired into the ranks of away fans before Robbie Blake forced Mark Schwarzer into his first proper save after seven minutes.

Ricard threatened to escape from Andy Myers as he chased a Colin Cooper through ball but again the ball across the six-yard box was too strong.

City responded by winning the first corner after 13 minutes as Cooper headed out from under his own bar but it came to nothing.

Ricard was booked after 16 minutes for throwing the ball away and at the same moment City replaced Whalley, who had been suffering from a slight thigh strain, with Lawrence.

Boro's leading scorer Alen Boksic pulled up as he chased a long ball from Dean Windass, whose return to Valley Parade produced a few early boos. The Croatian limped straight to the sideline with Boro throwing on ex-Leeds striker Brian Deane.

It was hardly a classic with referee Graham Barber the busiest man on the field whistling for free-kicks. But Boro centre-half Ugo Ehiogu tried to lift the quality in the 26th minute as he went forward for yet another setpiece and forced a low save from Gary Walsh.

Ince was fuming to concede another free-kick after a tussle with Jess. City took it quickly and Blake's cut-back was volleyed wide by Carbone.

The Italian had another go on the half-hour from a free-kick way out but Schwarzer held it comfortably.

Boro were happy to stick men behind the ball and attack on the break, as they had done in the FA Cup win.

They were nearly undone after 36 minutes as City produced the best move so far. Gunnar Halle probed down the right-hand side, and the elusive Blake found room to pull the ball back to Ashley Ward whose low effort was clutched by Schwarzer.

City won another corner, and with the bit between their teeth, went ahead seven minutes before the break.

Lawrence was the architect with a run to the edge of the box. He was caught late by Cooper as he released a pass to his left but as the Jamaican international lay on the floor, Wayne JACOBS nipped in on the blindside to clip over Schwarzer from eight yards.

The Carlsberg Stand taunted Windass as Molenaar conceded Boro's first corner, which was easily dealt with.

Karembeu was booked for a foul on Carbone before Walsh was called into action for a routine save from Ince.

Half-time: City 1, Middlesbrough 0

Ian Nolan came on for the second half, replacing Molenaar who had appeared to clutch his thigh just before the interval. Halle shifted to centre-half with the substitute slipping in at right back.

Halle was at the centre of controversy in the 51st minute as he chased an Ince long ball with Ricard. The Norwegian appeared to handle as he ushered it back to Walsh but play was waved on - to the anger of the 3,200 away supporters.

Windass had done little against his former team-mates up to that point but he had a great chance to level three minutes later.

He obstructed Myers in the build-up as Jason Gavin found room on the right flank but was in the middle to meet the defender's cross and head a couple of inches over the bar.

Lawrence then bundled over Windass on the angle of the City box and received a yellow card. Jacobs turned Ince's free-kick out of play for a corner and Halle thumped clear from Windass' resulting header.

Jefferies came to the edge of the pitch to calm down his troops as Boro began to take a grip. Ince in particular was becoming more prominent and had another go from 15 yards which Walsh picked up at the second attempt.

The keeper saved again when Vickers nodded Windass' floated free-kick towards goal. But Walsh was grateful to Halle for a brave diving header at the far post as Boro queued up to meet Karembeu's cross.

Yet another free-kick after Halle was harshly judged to have fouled Ricard was wasted by Ince who skimmed his 25-yarder harmlessly off target. The ex-England man was then tripped by McCall, who levelled the yellow card count.

Ward became booking number five for dissent as the over-fussy Mr Barber continued to halt play at every opportunity.

Lawrence put City in trouble with a header across his own goal. It fell to Karembeu who controlled neatly and drilled the ball via a slight touch off Jacobs towards the back post where Halle hacked away.

The Bantams lifted the siege midway through the half as Jess bent a shot over the bar. Boro went straight up the other end where Ricard was tripped on the edge of the box - but Windass chipped the free-kick into Walsh's arms.

Boro tried to inject some extra pace by bringing on winger Carlos Marinelli for Gavin with 17 minutes left. The Argentine made an immediate impression with a fierce right-foot shot which Walsh palmed away anxiously.

Marinelli, sent off in the November clash, threatened again nine minutes from the end with a shot that deflected off McCall and over the bar.

Marinelli's corner was partially cleared but KAREMBEU latched on to the loose ball and smashed a rocket into the top right-hand corner of Walsh's net.

Myers got in a tangle with Ricard and had to be held off by Windass before collecting City's fourth booking.