Southend 2 Bradford City 2

Commonsense and realism have been in short supply at the end of a week that could have been written by Hans Christian Andersen.

Cloud nine does not have room for pragmatists.

But in the cold light of Monday morning, the weekend point from Roots Hall looks a precious one.

It didn’t feel like that at the time. Still riding on the euphoria of a certain cup tie, it seemed that nothing could spoil City’s mood.

Until Gavin Tomlin shrugged off Stephen Darby to unlock a shattered defence in stoppage time and rescue a draw that Southend probably deserved.

So the Bantams’ feet were brought back down to earth, if not with a resounding thud then with enough of a bump to remind us all that League Two cares little for giant-killing reputations.

But among the muted reaction of a weary squad boarding the team bus, Rory McArdle typically provided the voice of reason.

Having done more than anybody to repel numerous Southend attacks, McArdle put the afternoon after the night before in proper perspective.

He said: “We all saw the papers on Wednesday and it was all about Bradford beating Arsenal. It’s been unbelievable really.

“But everybody was on a bit of a comedown after that. So we knew coming to Southend would be tough after the events of the week.

“It wasn’t a pretty game because the pitch was heavy after all the bad weather but we’ve come out the right side.

“I don’t think the boys changed their mentality. We’ll enjoy the cup success but promotion is the key.

“There was no pressure on us at all last Tuesday but we know what’s expected of us in the league.

“And if you’d said before the start of the week that we’d beat Arsenal and get a point at Southend, I’m pretty sure everyone would have taken that.”

Of course it could have been so much better. If Will Atkinson’s curler had found the top corner, if somebody had got a toe on the cross from Zavon Hines that was begging to be tapped home, if referee Stephen Martin had spotted the barge on Matt Duke which Phil Parkinson was so adamant about before Southend’s opener.

And if City had dealt with one last hopeful punt upfield in the first minute of added time.

It was a sloppy equaliser to concede as Paul Smith’s clearance was allowed to bounce right through for Tomlin to net for the sixth time in seven games.

But let’s not be too harsh. The back four had been magnificent up to that point against a side as free-flowing and dangerous as anyone they have encountered – Arsenal included.

As Parkinson had warned, Southend love to ping in crosses and make chances for fun. But for 80 minutes at least, City’s defence stood strong.

The late blows owed much to energy tanks and minds running on empty; entirely understandable in the context of a tumultuous few days. No wonder Parky will shuffle as much as he can at Brentford tomorrow.

Unfortunately defence, the area which could most do with a breather, is the one where he can hardly tinker. Forrayah Bass could make his senior debut but the unavailability of Tom Naylor and, of course, Curtis Good means the two centre halves could be forced to stay on duty.

McArdle and Carl McHugh had little time to relax on Saturday against the lively pairing of Tomlin and on-loan Watford frontman Britt Assombalonga.

It was the same for the full backs, James Meredith and Stephen Darby, as Southend attacked with the vigour of a team unbeaten now in 12. But none of the backline were found wanting.

“We’ve got defenders who always get in the right position,” said their manager. “They are always filling holes at the right time and reading situations.”

There are confident individuals all through the team, none more so than Meredith, who continues to take the step up from non-league in his effortless long strides.

The Australian is as equally at home in the opposition half as his own. It was his run that set up City’s breakthrough for Nahki Wells in the first half.

Meredith’s forward forays also allow Atkinson to tuck inside, his favoured part of the pitch, and the pair dovetailed neatly before the left back slipped Wells into the box.

Luke Prosser, who had an afternoon he will want to forget, slid across to block his shot. But the deflection merely succeeded in committing the keeper and popped back in the path of City’s striker to take his goal tally to 15.

That setback riled Southend, who spent the rest of the first half and the opening stages of the second camped in Bantam territory.

Assombalonga, Kevan Hurst and Prosser all went close to levelling.

With City penned in, it seemed only a matter of time before a Southend equaliser despite some magnificent resistance.

The visitors needed a break – and got it thanks to the luckless Prosser. Atkinson teased and tormented Chris Barker and whipped in a cross that bobbled up ominously on the cut-up surface.

Prosser attempted to clear it first time but sliced instead and left his keeper rooted to the spot.

City had never won at Roots Hall until last year. Suddenly the prospect of back-to-back triumphs in deepest Essex loomed large.

Southend boss Paul Sturrock, determined to break the curse of being named manager of the month before the game, went for broke. He had four strikers on the pitch for the last 20 minutes.

City had plenty more defending to do and were finally undone when Ryan Cresswell emerged strongest from a scrum of players on the end of Hurst’s corner. Parkinson’s pleas alleging foul play on Duke fell on deaf ears.

The late momentum was all with the home side and McArdle produced the tackle of the match with a goal-saving intervention on Tomlin.

But just as the 210 travelling fans prepared to salute another huge result, City’s weary troops did not react to Smith’s booming kick. Tomlin did, despite Darby’s best efforts, to ensure the points were shared.

Parkinson admitted: “Their second goal was purely down to tiredness on our part but I’m not going to criticise.

“It was tough after the Arsenal game but we’ve got such an honest group of players that they just keep going.

“You could see in the dressing room before kick-off, they were saying themselves they knew the importance of this game. They knew we had to push ourselves and go again.

“Of course you’re down when you don’t win after being two up. But this was a good point and I can’t tell you how proud I am of these lads.”