Port Vale 1, Bradford City 1; Match Report, by Richard Sutcliffe.

Anyone wondering just how much reaching the Premiership would mean to Bradford City need look no further than skipper Stuart McCall.

The Bantams skipper returned to Valley Parade last summer saying he had 'unfinished business' after the heartbreaking fashion in which City had missed out on promotion in his final season in claret and amber ten years earlier.

McCall has been as good as his word this season with some stirring displays which have played a massive part in City's promotion push.

And last night his heartfelt desire to take City into the top flight was clear for all to see as he powered round the field trying to find the goal which would have put City in the driving seat with regards automatic promotion.

Unfortunately, City and McCall could not add to Lee Mills' first half equaliser and the disappointment on the City skipper's face as he left the field told its own story.

The Bantams are back in second position above Ipswich on goals scored but Town have a vital game in hand. However, all is certainly not lost for City because should they beat Huddersfield this weekend and Bolton overcome Ipswich at the Reebok Stadium, the Bantams' destiny will be back in their own hands.

In truth, City should have taken all three points from this enthralling clash at Vale Park.

After starting disappointingly for the third time in their last four games, City finally found their feet and in the second half they enjoyed tremendous territorial dominance.

City may have had to settle for a point, but the consolation for the 2,500 fans who offered such superb vocal backing is that their team finally re-discovered some of their attacking edge.

They may not have created too many clear-cut chances, but after the jittery displays at home to Grimsby and Portsmouth on consecutive Saturdays this was a definite improvement.

This was invariably down to their two best performers, Lee Sharpe and McCall.

The former Manchester United man was a constant menace to Vale.

The on-loan winger is one of the best crossers in the game and he illustrated that with his perfect low ball which allowed Lee Mills to silence the home fans with his 24th goal of the season.

Then, after the break Sharpe, who now appears to be fully match fit, really started to have an influence on the game.

His pace and intelligent running caused all sorts of problems.

It was from one of his runs that he looked to have wrapped up all three points and it came after he combined with the impressive McCall.

The City skipper played a superb through ball in the 70th minute which Sharpe took without breaking stride before beating two defenders and rounding the goalkeeper.

Unfortunately for City, he was forced slightly too wide and when he cracked a shot goalwards, former Leeds defender Paul Beesley somehow managed to clear the ball off the line and to safety.

McCall and Dean Windass also had good chances to seal the points but it was not to be and no doubt the pundits are again predicting that Ipswich are as good as up now.

However any team whose driving influence is Stuart McCall cannot be written off and that is why the remaining four games of City's season may yet yield the ultimate prize of Premiership football.

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