City 1, Port Vale 1

Mark Lawn declared his Valentine’s Day love for Andrew Davies before the game – so imagine what he must be thinking about the loan defender after last night’s late, late show!

Davies played the ‘get out of jail’ card with a stoppage-time header and earned City a valuable and unexpected point.

They are still looking for a first win in 2012 but Davies made sure this was a decent result against a traditional bogey side.

Port Vale had not lost in their last six league meetings – or at Valley Parade since a 2-0 win for Colin Todd’s side over five years ago.

Simon Eastwood’s penalty heroics helped City edge a JP Trophy shoot-out between them at Valley Parade in November 2009. The fact that James Hanson was the only survivor playing last night from that home line-up underlined the amount of change in the past couple of seasons.

There were plenty on display compared with City’s previous outing at Bristol Rovers 17 days earlier. Phil Parkinson made six changes – including a debut for left back Matt Fry, who became the 37th different player of the campaign.

Dave Syers missed out with a knock and there was no Craig Fagan, so Ricky Ravenhill was named captain. Deane Smalley took over from Fagan on the right wing and Ross Hannah replaced Nahki Wells as Hanson’s partner.

Two much-missed names made a welcome return on the bench, with Michael Flynn and Simon Ramsden back in the frame.

Lawn caused a stir with last week’s beef about referees but rookie official Tony Harrington, in charge of his first league game, did City a big favour within two minutes. He pulled play back for Luke Oliver’s foul on Marc Richards when the loose ball had given Ben Williamson a clear route at goal from the edge of the box.

But City went close after eight minutes as Hanson’s downward header from a Kyel Reid free-kick brought a fine save from Stuart Tomlinson. Smalley hooked well over from the rebound.

That proved to be Hanson’s final involvement, with the big man soon limping out the action after taking a knock. Will Atkinson came on in midfield as Smalley joined Hannah up top.

It was generally disjointed stuff on a heavy surface that was cutting up quickly. But good persistence on the right from Atkinson and Marcel Seip set up Hannah for a curling shot that just beat the far angle of the Vale goal.

Fry’s reputation for defensive toughness was put to the test in the 28th minute from Vale’s first corner. Sam Morsy’s kick was palmed out by Jon McLaughlin and knocked straight back into the danger zone, where the former West Ham full back bravely stuck his head in the way of Vale man mountain Clayton McDonald, taking a whack from the 6ft 6in opponent against the post for his troubles.

The sparsely-populated Kop bayed for blood against McDonald but Harrington only gave the foul. It did ensure that the Vale centre half was booed every time he came near the ball.

Atkinson showed another bright touch to find Hannah again lurking on the edge of the Vale area but John McCombe shut the door in the nick of time.

Jones surged forward with an unexpected burst but home expectation was immediately checked when Reid lost out to Adam Yates before he could get a cross in.

Seip became the first Football League name in Harrington’s book for a foul on Williamson.

Then City were stunned six minutes from half-time by a superb strike out of nothing from Louis Dodds. He met Sean Rigg’s cross with a thundering left-foot volley that flew past McLaughlin.

Smalley appealed hopefully for a penalty as he tumbled from a corner but Vale were not giving City an inch with their hustling and closing down. It was a frustrated home side that trooped off at the interval.

Vale had an early sighter at goal to start the second half but Seip managed to force Rigg wide enough to take the danger out of his shot, which McLaughlin gathered at his post. Then Yates fired well over but the visitors were asking questions.

As City continued to struggle to hit their stride, Morsy rattled a shot against the advertising hoardings through a crowded box.

Hannah had shown the odd sharp moment on his return but he made way just before the hour. The arrival of Wells lifted a crowd that was becoming edgy.

The Bermudian’s quick feet almost brought an equaliser from a Reid set-piece, swivelling this way and that to find room for a shot which he then scuffed straight at Tomlinson.

Jones received City’s second yellow card for a crunching challenge on Richards on the halfway line as the hosts still found it tough to punch a hole through Vale’s resolute defensive wall.

Midfielder Jones was full of running and tracked back 40 yards with Doug Loft to nip the ball off his toes level with the penalty area.

Vale were dishing out the strong-arm treatment with Reid but Harrington’s cards remained in his pocket. Every decision given against the Bantams earned a howl of disapproval from the stands.

The frustration clicked up another notch when Davies was bowled over in the box but the referee waved play on.

Parkinson made his final change with 11 minutes to go as Ramsden came on for Fry, who had made a promising debut. City went to just three at the back as Davies was thrown forward as an extra striker.

Wells had added a bit of spark and had a late chance after cutting inside Yates to get off a shot but Morsy made a crucial block.

Tomlinson had not put a hand wrong all night – until stoppage time. And how City took advantage.

With three of the added five minutes gone, the keeper allowed a needless corner. Smalley’s kick was met by Davies, Tomlinson got his hands to the ball but allowed it to slip through his legs and City had suddenly salvaged a point.

There was still time for Wells to break again but an even later City winner would have been too much. They were grateful in the end just to take something.