PETERBOROUGH 1 CITY 1

THE words that accompanied the cursory handshake at the final whistle were nowhere near as effusive as the pre-match platitudes.

Maybe Steve Evans had meant his quotes in the build-up about not understanding City’s current predicament.

But most dismissed his fluffy words about the opposition’s quality as no more than mind games, soft-soaping a floundering side he privately viewed as a nailed-on three points.

He must have looked at City, with kit man Rob Day warming up the keepers, and secretly rubbed his hands.

The brief exchange with David Hopkin when referee Scott Oldham brought Saturday’s proceedings to a close suggested different.

But the curtness of his rival’s comments must have sounded like music to Hopkin’s ears.

Evans, of course, remains unbeaten against the Bantams.

That’s now eight meetings with three different clubs and only a second City draw.

A one-sided rivalry was stoked up again for the first time in four years since Phil Parkinson parked the bus to eke out a point at Rotherham’s New York Stadium in City’s opening season back in League One.

That was a means-to-an-end result to safeguard the club’s position in the division. Maybe a few months down the line, we will look back on Saturday as something similar.

The abrupt demeanour of the Posh boss betrayed his frustration as another home opportunity went begging. Their form at the ABAX Stadium – with just one win in seven now - is remarkably flaky for a side who have occupied a lofty position from the start.

But that should take nothing away from the Bantams, who finally added to a points tally that had been left dormant since the long-forgotten win at fellow strugglers Wimbledon at the start of October.

The draw was enough to move them level with the manager-less Dons, a welcome psychological lift even if the league position – and distance to one of safety – is still the same.

A fortnight before, they had matched leaders Portsmouth at Valley Parade and come away with only empty praise from the victors to show for it.

This time there was tangible reward for standing their ground against another of the division’s early pacesetters. At last some evidence that Hopkin’s talked-about improvement on the pitch is taking shape.

He joined his coaching staff and all the players in saluting the supporters afterwards. The display of unity was a genuine appreciation of the 751 who had showed their loyalty, many taking up the club’s offer of free travel.

The sight of players and fans together was a welcome one after such a fractured few months. The battle ahead is a huge one, both on and off the pitch, but togetherness during every game at least will be essential.

Dare we say, there was a degree of positivity in the Cambridgeshire air as the travelling Bantams headed off into the night?

That certainly wasn’t the view in the Posh camp.

Peterborough’s forthright chairman Darragh MacAnthony tweeted his thoughts with a one-word description unsuitable for a family newspaper.

His pre-watershed musings did suggest it was the “easiest afternoon of that goalkeeper’s season”.

In terms of catching practice, Richard O’Donnell was kept active dealing with the stream of uncontested crosses. Shots-wise, he had only one straightforward header and the goal to pick out the net.

As MacAnthony pointed out, possession stats are a “fallacy”. Peterborough may have enjoyed almost 60 per cent of the ball – but that was the game plan Hopkin had concocted to muzzle League One’s most potent attack.

Employing three central defenders, Hopkin put Paul Caddis straight in at right back and restored Adam Chicksen on the left. It was heavy on experience and numbers.

David Ball and Jack Payne were asked to play wide – roles they embraced to underline the growing confidence in their games.

The result was that Peterborough toyed with City but rarely broke through. O’Donnell’s safe hands ensured there were no scraps or half-chances to feed off.

Caddis became the 21st player to make his City debut this season – a remarkable and pretty damning figure.

It was his first outing for three months but you wouldn’t have known it. He may not look the archetypal footballer in build but, like Jim O’Brien before him, looks another shrewd addition from Hopkin.

The Scot added a calm persona and no-nonsense approach to the back five while also looking to push up, particularly in the opening stages.

It was Caddis who had the first shot in anger as City created more genuine opportunities in the first 11 minutes than the so-called favourites managed all game.

Peterborough keeper Aaron Chapman beat away the full-back’s firm drive and then used his legs to deny Payne after a clever interchange with Ball had created an inviting hole.

But City kept coming and got their reward. Chicksen’s long ball was knocked down by Nathaniel Knight-Percival, Hope Akpan picked up the pieces and Anthony O’Connor bundled in via the lunging Ryan Tafazolli.

The skipper became the joint top-scorer with four in the process of converting City’s first goal in the opening quarter of an hour of a league game since April.

Peterborough pushed for a response but there was no quality to their play as the Bantams stayed disciplined and resolute.

The introduction of Siriki Dembele, a striker that City had eyed in the summer, added pace for the second half. But it was still too predictable from a team far more effective playing on the counter.

Their equaliser did arrive just after the hour – accompanied by another dose of “why always us” in Bantam eyes.

Ivan Toney was coming back from an offside position when Marcus Maddison’s long ball was allowed to slip through the ranks for him to bury.

The substitute looked off to the naked eye and City’s fury was directed at assistant referee Stephen Wade, who was a good 10 yards off the play.

Hopkin had been about to make a change but Wade’s ear piece was not working. He had been running back towards halfway when Maddison’s pass caught him out of position.

The Bantams boss reacted angrily and was warned by the referee as Evans and assistant Paul Raynor chipped in his ear.

But Hopkin stayed on – and so did his team who showed no hint of a Gillingham-style collapse to see the game through with relative comfort. They might even have nicked it with a bit more composure.

No wonder Evans wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries.