Accrington 0 City 0

Accrington won 11-10 on penalties

CITY crashed out of the EFL Cup at the first stage for the third time in four years after a marathon penalty shoot-out at the Wham Stadium last night.

But the real story of a long and ultimately dramatic contest was the string of chances that went begging during the two hours that preceded it.

The Bantams clocked up nearly 30 opportunities against a League Two side who played the final 50 minutes with ten men after keeper Elliot Parish was sent off.

City did enough to work two stoppers but are still hunting their first goal of the new Stuart McCall era.

They did hit the net ten times in an extraordinary shoot-out but went down after Reece Webb-Foster blazed high and wide to go with an earlier Nicky Law miss.

So there was no hat-trick of victories for McCall at a ground where City have traditionally found it tough.

Since McCall’s last win here in 2008, Peter Jackson, Peter Taylor and Phil Parkinson had all had their work cut out against a side that love to bloody the nose of their bigger “neighbours” from over the Pennines.

McCall had hoped to use last night as the chance to freshen up his line-up but that was restricted with the injuries still hanging around.

He still managed to make two changes – as well as a switch in formation to use Billy Clarke at the tip of a midfield diamond. Many see that as his best position playing off the front two.

But there was no Josh Cullen, even on a bench restricted to just five players because of the absence of Matt Kilgallon to focus on his training-ground fitness work.

McCall decided against risking the West Ham midfielder after his full run-out for the Premier League side just two days earlier.

The Bantams boss had stressed that he was taking this competition seriously and that was evident with his animated antics in the opening stages.

McCall’s voice could clearly be heard cajoling his troops from the off. One brief stop in play for treatment to home winger Jordan Clark saw McCall order his team to the touchline for an impromptu tactics talk.

With no out-and-out wingers, there was a narrower look about the visitors but they again got the ball down and looked to play.

The biggest concern on opening day was the fact City did not work the Port Vale keeper enough for all their possession with only two shots on target.

They had topped that tally midway through the first half as City quickly took control.

Parish was kept busy in the home goal, dealing with a 30-yard swerver from Clarke and then Nicky Law’s drive from just outside the box.

Jordy Hiwula was looking a handful and having seen one effort blocked, another broke invitingly at his feet inside the penalty area – only for Parish to save well and tip the ball round the far post.

The City fans behind the goal, who made up just over half the 1,988 crowd, were sensing a breakthrough and it should have come after 22 minutes. Parish got blocked off trying to punch Tony McMahon’s corner and the rebound dropped to Nathaniel Knight-Percival six yards out. Unfortunately it was a defender’s finish that followed as he blazed it high into the open terrace.

Accrington had shown little at the other end in the opening half hour before Oakworth resident Matty Pearson rumbled forward from left back to thump a long-range shot wide.

But it was City again knocking on the door minutes later – frustratingly failing to take another gilt-edged chance.

This time Law was the culprit after Hiwula’s quick feet had created the opening. But the midfielder leaned back and skied it from right in front of goal.

Touchline tempers frayed when John Coleman took exception after James Hanson knocked over Mark Hughes.

And McCall’s frustration grew as he bellowed “look after your passing” after a loose ball cut short another City raid.

The performance had been good and Hiwula threatened again with a burst from the halfway line, forcing Parish into another save diving to his right.

The stalemate scoreline encouraged Accrington and the second half began in more open fashion with more chances at both ends.

Hiwula jabbed one wide for City but Chris Eagles kept the previously-unused Colin Doyle alert with a decent crack for the hosts.

Then on-loan Blackburn winger John O’Sullivan whipped in a dangerous low cross that just beat the sliding Terry Gornell.

Tony McMahon, willing to overlap once again, worked a shooting opportunity with Clarke but could not keep his attempted curler from clearing the bar.

Accrington responded with a wonderful attempt by Clark, whose volley grazed the woodwork with Doyle struggling to reach it. It was another warning sign for City that possession alone does not win matches.

McCall made a double switch after 65 minutes and the arrival of Filipe Morais and Mark Marshall saw a switch to a flat midfield four.

Both wingers were involved straight off, Parish denying Morais at the near post and then Marshall screwing an effort across goal with his first touch on the pitch.

Marshall did better with a thumper that Parish pushed behind – but the stopper’s next involvement proved to be his last.

He rushed from goal to clatter into McMahon as the City skipper broke forward and ref David Webb had no doubts about reaching for his red card.

The extra-man advantage put the ball even more in City’s court and Marshall enjoyed his own personal duel with sub keeper Aaron Chapman, who deflected one shot from the winger on to the base of the post and another wide. But as the game headed into added time, Marshall scorned another huge opportunity when he side-footed over a Morais cross as the goal beckoned.

Extra-time began in explosive fashion with an Accrington penalty as Romain Vincelot was punished for grabbing Mark Hughes at a corner. But Doyle went the right way to save O’Sullivan’s weak spot-kick.

Legs were tiring on both sides but City saw a double blast kept out in the second period. Danny Devine was denied by a block in front of the line and then Vincelot fired the rebound against the post.

The penalty shoot-out looked to be heading City’s way when Hughes missed the opener but Accrington did not fail again – leaving the visitors ruing a third successive spot-kick exit.