City disappointed in the first half, showing a preference for balls played sideways or backwards, rather than grabbing the initiative and committing to attack.

Lee Mills was winning balls in the air with ease, and more conviction going forward from the Bantams could have proved fruitful as Everton's defence struggled on the icy surface. Dean Saunders partnered Mills in attack when perhaps Robbie Blake's pace and guile was required.

City came close from free kicks midway through the half. Neil Redfearn fired over the bar and then Dean Windass saw his attempt go narrowly wide. Andy Myers sent over a great left-wing cross into the box, but Paul Gerrard got one hand to it before a City front-man could pounce. Then Stuart McCall played the ball to Mills at the edge of the box. He turned and shot, only to see Gerrard tip his stunning drive on to the bar.

Everton lacked top-scorer Kevin Campbell, with his wife at the maternity hospital, and his replacement, American striker Joe-Max Moore, drove a shot at Matt Clarke, who saved well. Francis Jeffers forced Clarke into making two fine stops, and Nick Barmby ballooned a shot into the Kop.

When the ineffectual Myers was replaced by Peter Beagrie, Lee Sharpe dropping to left-back, the City faithful roared their approval. The mercurial Beagrie crossed brilliantly to Mills, whose header went agonisingly wide. Mills then headed a Saunders cross against the base of the post.

A point earned. We're not in the bottom three. Oh, and Sir Geoffrey says were staying at VP. Bring on the next Millennium, we await it with relish.

Gavin Dimmock, Brighouse

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.