Fleetwood Town vs Bradford City - live blog (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

4:55pm

Fleetwood Town 2 Bradford City 2

Ryan Dickson’s first goal as a City player helped them to a battling point at Fleetwood this afternoon.
The defender came off the bench to score in a much-improved second-half display from the visitors.
Nahki Wells had early equalised just before the break with a stunning free-kick – his 18th goal of the season.
But Fleetwood, who had led through Alan Goodall, grabbed a share of the spoils with a Jon Parkin penalty.
The biggest worry for City was the sight of Rory McArdle on crutches after being subbed. Fans will be hoping that was only a precautionary measure.
Gareth Evans got plenty of stick from the travelling fans – but he had a hand in Fleetwood’s goal after 21 minutes.
Matt Duke made a fine one-handed save from Junior Brown but City did not deal with Evans’ corner and Goodall forced in at the near post.
Fleetwood threatened again through record signing Jamille Matt but Stephen Darby got a vital toe in. Then his strike partner Jamie Allen should have done better with a free header from Goodall’s cross.
City looked too narrow and predictable in response – but then levelled in spectacular fashion just before half-time.
Gary Jones was barged over by Nathan Pond and Wells left keeper Scott Davies rooted to the spot with his 20-yard set-piece.
The momentum swung and City came out a different team for the second half, grabbing the lead seven minutes in.
Dickson, who had replaced McArdle, received Carl McHugh’s pass in plenty of space and he coolly ran in on goal and slotted past Davies.
But Fleetwood hit back after 75 minutes with a penalty from their sub Parkin after James Hanson handled in the box.

4:51pm

Jones gives ball away but Crowther lashes  shot and drives wide.

4:48pm

City win corner as fourth official puts up board for five minutes of added time.

4:47pm

Crowd announced as 3,577 - Fleetwood's third highest of the season. City sold all their 1,400 tickets.

4:44pm

Scare for City as Matt wriggles his way into the box but he opts to pass instead of shoot and Nelson hacks clear.

4:43pm

Jones heads away and Reid has his first chance to run - ended straight away by McKenna. He's booked as Gray replaces Wells.

4:42pm

Goodall's dangerous shot on the turn is blocked in a scrum of players but it's another Fleetwood corner.

4:41pm

Fleetwood win a corner, City need to dig in.

4:38pm

And here comes Reid on for Thompson, 80min

4:38pm

Flurry from Fleetwood comes to nothing but home side have their tails up since second goal.

4:36pm

Hines sits back down and it's Reid stripped and ready to come on.

4:33pm

Up steps PARKIN .... 2-2 just after Duke gets hand to it.

4:32pm

City couldn't clear free-kick and Hanson handles. Penalty for Fleetwood.

4:32pm

Dickson foul on Crowther gives Fleetwood a free-kick five yards outside angle of the box.

4:31pm

Hines ready to come on for City.

4:30pm

Great ball from Brown to release Crowther on right. But his cross is cleared by McHugh under pressure.

4:28pm

Wells caught by Davies as he challenges keeper for loose ball. Striker is hobbling but he's going to carry on.

4:27pm

Nelson long ball is chased by Hanson who tries to take shot on early but gets poor connection.

4:26pm

City furious as Hanson is knocked over by Pond but foul given Fleetwood's way.

4:24pm

But this one smashes into the wall and he gives away a foul trying to win ball back.

4:24pm

City free-kick in same range as first goal. Again Wells over it ...

4:23pm

Keystone Cops defending from City but luckily comes to nothing. Still too many sloppy moments around their own box.

4:21pm

Fleetwood bring on "The Beast" as Jon Parkin replaces Allen.

4:18pm

Fleetwood make their second sub with Beeley suffering from a knock he picked up in the non-penalty call with Wells. On comes McLaughlin.

4:17pm

Bit worrying to see McArdle using crutches as he takes his place in the dug-out.

4:13pm

It was Ryan Dickson's first goal since January last year.

4:13pm

City screaming for a penalty as Wells appears to be manhandled in box but nothing given.

4:11pm

City take the lead after 52 minutes! McHugh's pass finds DICKSON in space on the left and the sub calmly advances on goal before slotting ball past Davies. 2-1 to City.

4:07pm

Jones over-cooks the corner though and it sails over everyone for a throw-in.

4:06pm

Wells shows good skill to send Atkinson away and he wins City's third corner of the afternoon. Away end comes alive.

4:05pm

City concede unnecessary corner as Duke tips behind Nelson's back header but it comes to nothing.

4:03pm

Evans is off, replaced by Ryan Crowther.

4:02pm

City first out for the second half, expect they got orders from the management to buck ideas up.

3:49pm

Great time to score, keeper never moved as free-kick flew in from 20 yards. Half-time 1-1

3:46pm

And City are level with a fantastic free-kick by NAHKI WELLS. Keeper never moved 1-1

3:44pm

Jones on the charge but wrestled to ground by Pond. Skipper lands heavily. He's been the one player to show any real momentum for City.

3:43pm

Parkinson getting angry with fourth official Paul Kettlewell. Doesn't feel City getting any of the 50-50 decisions.

3:41pm

3:41pm

City make a sub with five mins til half-time. McArdle, still struggling from that earlier knock, is replaced by Dickson. So McHugh moves back to centre half alongside Nelson.

3:38pm

Allen fights for room to get in a shot but McArdle takes pace off it and Duke saves comfortably.

3:37pm

Matt curler clears City bar.

3:36pm

City respond with a corner but Pond wins it through crowd of players. Ball comes out for Jones to have a crack and he drills shot wide.

3:35pm

Big chance for Fleetwood as Goodall's cross picks out an unmarked Allen but he heads over bar. Should have been 2-0

3:33pm

Matt breaks through on left from McGuire pass but Darby gets a very important toe in to prevent shot.

3:31pm

He does but Fleetwood skipper Rob Atkinson meets it with firm header. Keeper Scott Davies' ultra-white shirt has still not got dirty

3:30pm

McGuire concedes silly free-kick, chance for Jones to put decent ball into the Fleetwood box.

3:28pm

Surface doesn't help but City playing too direct at times.

3:26pm

Nothing happened in game up to the Duke save and goal. Now City need to pick it up again

3:23pm

Evans inevitably involved with the corner which leads to opening goal.

3:21pm

First chance of game as Goodall finds Brown in room. His shot from 20 yards is turned round post by Duke for Fleetwood corner. And GOODALL scores. 1-0 to Fleetwood.

3:17pm

And he's back on - for now anyway.

3:17pm

At last we've resumed as Evans continues to be looked at on sidelines.

3:16pm

Game stopped while Evans receives more treatment but it doesn't look good for him.

3:15pm

Evans just gone down for second time, clearly got a problem. Not a lot of sympathy from the away end.

3:12pm

McArdle stays down after taking a knock but he's soon able to resume

3:10pm

Evans cuts inside and drills shot which strikes McArdle's hand but referee ignores appeals

3:09pm

Jones kick too deep for Hanson to do anything with and Evans volleys clear of penalty area.

3:09pm

City win first corner of the game.

3:06pm

Good little passage of play from City involving Wells, Thompson, Darby and Atkinson. Eventually Thompson finds room for angled shot wide.

3:04pm

Thompson leaves a slide mark during a tackle. The pitch isn't the best and is going to cut up as game goes on.

3:03pm

"We're all going on a European tour" - that's a chant you don't often hear at City games.

2:59pm

2:52pm

2:51pm

The Wembley chants keep cropping up from away end. And why not ...

2:51pm

2:16pm

Gareth Evans, who stirred up the City fans with his over-enthusiastic goal celebrations at Rotherham earlier this season, is in the Fleetwood starting line-up.

They also include striker Jamille Matt, a £300,000 signing from Kidderminster last month.

It's the same side that beat Oxford here 3-0 last week.

It will be interesting to see the battle between the two 35-year-olds in central midfield, Gary Jones and Paul McKenna.

FLEETWOOD: Davies, Beeley, Atkinson, Pond, Goodall, Brown, McKenna, McGuire, Evans, Allen, Matt. Subs: Barry, Parkin, McLaughlin, Crowther, Ball, Gyorio, Lucas.

2:06pm

2:06pm

Centre half Michael Nelson makes his debut as City come off their mid-winter league break at sunny Fleetwood this afternoon.

The £30,000 January capture from Kilmarnock replaces Curtis Good, who has been struggling with a sore throat. Carl McHugh moves across to left back.

Phil Parkinson made one more change at right midfield where Garry Thompson takes over from Zavon Hines.

Ryan Dickson is back on the bench after recovering from the tight thigh that forced him to miss Villa Park.

CITY: Duke, Darby, McArdle, Nelson, McHugh, Thompson, Doyle, Jones, Atkinson, Wells, Hanson. Subs: Ravenhill, Reid, Hines, Connell, Gray, Dickson, McLaughlin.

1:50pm

Glorious sunshine at Highbury with not a cloud in the sky. But it's going to get cold later.