Live blog: Port Vale v Bantams (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

9:39pm

PORT VALE 0 CITY 0

City took a very good point from second-placed Vale tonight - and it could have been more.

The Bantams were by far the better team after the break and carved several chances.

James Hanson saw one header tipped on to the bar and put another wide when he was unmarked.

Vale defender Richard Duffy also twice cleared off the line from a Gary Jones corner.

Jon McLaughlikn made a superb save to deny League Two top scorer Tom Pope in the first half. But otherwise City kept the Vale attack at bay.

And the home side had midfielder Doug Loft sent off in added time for a high challenge on Ricky Ravenhill.

9:34pm

Loft SENT OFF for late tackle on Ravenhill.

9:32pm

Andrew comes on for Dodds.

9:32pm

Five minutes of added time to play.

9:31pm

Vale finishing strongly and Pope's header from Jones's cross is straight at McLaughlin.

9:29pm

Massive block from McArdle to deny Pope after City undone by long ball upfield.

9:28pm

Announcement of crowd figure earns an ironic cheer from the City end.

9:27pm

Hughes replaces Myrie-Willliams.

9:26pm

Hughes about to join the fray. City fans get ready to give him traditional warm welcome.

9:23pm

Another chance for City to whip ball in box from Jones free-kick. It's too deep for McHugh but good pressure forces a corner.

9:19pm

Vale make their first change, Morsy for Vincent.

9:18pm

With Reid on left, Atkinson has switched to right side.

9:17pm

Reid on for Hines, who has worked hard again.

9:16pm

Reid waiting to come on.

9:13pm

City shout for a penalty as Wells shoulder-charged to ground by Purse but nothing given.

9:12pm

McHugh beats two Vale heads to clear free-kick.

9:12pm

Ravenhill booked after hand ball, but probably more due to totting-up process.

9:11pm

Darby loses ball edge of Vale box after trying to cut his way inside. But he tracks back well to regain possession with sliding tackle on the halfway line.

9:09pm

Instinctive volley from Dodds from 25 yards. Over the bar but a good effort - Vale's first for a while.

9:08pm

City need to turn this pressure into a goal. Be kicking themselves if they can't make it count. On top at the moment.

9:06pm

Wells comes on for Thompson who leaves pitch gingerly.

9:06pm

Thompson down and getting treatment after clash of heads. Wells looks ready to come on.

9:02pm

How did the ball not go in? City have several stabs at low corner and twice it's blocked on the line. Think McArdle and Hanson had the shots.

9:01pm

Hines skins his marker and fizzes in dangerous cross which is deflected behind for corner.

9:01pm

Jones is second Vale name in book for foul on Darby.

8:59pm

Crowd is 4,281 with 313 City fans.

8:57pm

Hanson finds himself room to meet Jones free-kick but plants his header wide. Good chance that for City.

8:54pm

Crucial block from Darby to smother Vincent shot before Pope chipped weak follow-up into McLaughlin's arms.

8:53pm

Hines isn't renowned for his tackling but he pulled off a blinder on Loft as the Vale midfielder looked to zig-zag his way towards the City box.

8:50pm

Hanson almost breaks deadlock with firm header from McHugh which Neal tips on to the bar.

8:49pm

City started second half brightly and the grumbles are back in the stand.

8:49pm

Atkinson feeds Thompson to put cross in but Hanson is outjumped by Purse.

8:47pm

Thompson immediately tries a snap shot but it's blocked by centre half Purse.

8:46pm

And we're off for the second half as City kick off towards their fans.

8:43pm

8:43pm

8:30pm

Hines gives away cheap foul and chance for Vale to pump ball into box. Cross is too deep for everyone - and that's half-time. 0-0

8:29pm

One minute of added time to play.

8:29pm

Play stopped for Pope to get treatment for whack on head. Nice graphic of ambulance on electronic scoreboard.

8:24pm

Assistant referee falls over. Always funny...

8:23pm

Hanson heads corner straight up in air and Vale force goal kick. But natives are getting a bit restless.

8:22pm

He does - and Neal's punch behind is very unconvincing as McArdle makes his presence felt.

8:22pm

Atkinson tripped five yards to left of Vale box. Chance for Jones to put free-kick into the mix.

8:19pm

Griffith has got to be careful after being pulled up for grabbing Jones. That early yellow card could be a problem for Vale's midfield enforcer.

8:16pm

Great save from McLaughlin to keep out Pope header. Was going wrong way but flung out a hand to tip ball behind.

8:14pm

Pope rises well to meet Myrie-Williams corner but cannot direct header.

8:11pm

Griffith clears corner with powerful header and Vale counter quickly. Chilvers lofts hit and hope ball towards box and it drops for Dodds whose deflected shot behind wins Vale corner.

8:10pm

Hines does well again to flick the ball off Jones for a City corner. Decision greeted by universal boos from crowd.

8:09pm

"He's magic you know...." the Gary Jones anthem booms out from the away end.

8:07pm

McHugh crunches Myrie-Williams with proper old school tackle, sending the winger flying in the air.

8:06pm

Will Atkinson works an opening for himself but skews left-foot drive off target.

8:05pm

8:04pm

Phil Parkinson will be quite happy with way City have started without creating any real threat.

8:02pm

City win the first corner of night after 18mins

8:00pm

Nelson wins important header to clear Myrie-Williams cross as Vale fans start to come to life.

7:55pm

Jones swings in free-kick behind Hanson and ball drops back for Hines who leans back and shoots high, wide and not very handsome.

7:54pm

Hines charges down Jones clearance and shows nice turn of pace to win free-kick level with Vale penalty area.

7:51pm

Griffiths takes five minutes to get the first booking for a late lunge on Thompson.

7:47pm

Two crunching tackles from Darby lets Vale know he's around.

7:46pm

Neat work down City's left before Atkinson cross headed away from six-yard box.

7:44pm

Come on you voltage cherries.... We're underway.

7:41pm

Wonder of You blaring out. If Elvis is in the building that can only mean the teams are in the tunnel...

7:40pm

Port Vale announcer congratulating City on their "massive achievement" in getting to Capital One Cup final.

7:26pm

7:19pm

7:15pm

Five of the City team that won here in the JPT in December are no longer with the club, including both scorers that night Ritchie Jones and Craig Forsyth.

7:13pm

Interesting stat that Jon McLaughlin is the only City player who will have started all three games against Vale this season.

7:09pm

Anthony Griffith comes straight in for Port Vale after returning to the club yesterday on loan from Leyton Orient.

It looks like they will be lining up 4-4-1-1 with Louis Dodds playing just behind League Two's top scorer Tom Pope up front.

They have again gone without a sub keeper.

VALE: Neal, Duffy, Purse, Jones, Chilvers, Myrie-Williams, Griffith, Loft, Vincent, Dodds, Pope. Subs: McCombe, Shuker, Andrew, Morsy, Williamson, Birchall, Hughes. 

7:02pm

There are three changes for City's side tonight.

Garry Thompson, who scored the decisive second at York, earns a recall up front with Nahki Wells dropping to the bench.

Rory McArdle returns from his rest at centre half in place of Andrew Davies and Zavon Hines, another lively sub at the weekend, came in for Kyel Reid.

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

6:54pm

Anyone buying the programme be warned. It's the one from the original postponed fixture on January 19

6:44pm

6:28pm

No teams confirmed yet but hearing there are four changes for Port Vale from Saturday's defeat at Oxford.

6:27pm

6:20pm

The City players are just walking out to have a look at the pitch. Unfortunately I can't tell you who's out there because the floodlights haven't come on yet ...

6:18pm

6:17pm

Good evening from Vale Park as City try to make it back-to-back away wins against second-placed Port Vale.