Scunthorpe 1, City 1

CITY'S season may be nearly done but Billy Clarke must wish it still had plenty to run.

His 13th goal of the season proved lucky for the Bantams once again as the in-form Irishman rescued a point for the second away game running.

Incredibly, Clarke has now scored seven times since James Hanson was last on target in mid-February.

His strike capped a much-improved second half from the Bantams – which should have been topped off with a stoppage-time winner by Tony McMahon, who cleared the bar from close range.

The first period had certainly not been a performance to put before the England manager – or a potential owner.

Neither Roy Hodgson, who will visit Valley Parade on Saturday to pay his respects to the fire victims, nor Gianni Paladini were spotted in a sparcely-occupied Glanford Park.

It was a wise call on their part to swerve the opening 45 minutes, from a Bantams point of view anyway.

Parkinson had talked about tinkering with the system and made three changes from Saturday's draw, which officially knocked them out of the play-off race.

One was enforced, with Rory McArdle – favourite to be named the club's player of the year next week – sitting out the first of two games for his weekend dismissal.

Interestingly, Chris Routis got the nod to fill the gap at centre half – the position where he had lasted only 15 minutes last time out before being red-carded himself against Preston. It felt like a trial for the Frenchman to prove his worth for another year's contract.

With Filipe Morais and Mark Yeates both injured, City again missed a natural winger but Parkinson kept the same shape from Bramall Lane, with the recalled Jon Stead this time operating in an unusual role on the left.

Stead replaced Andy Halliday, who had been suffering from slight sciatica, while Gary Liddle returned from his weekend breather alongside McMahon in the middle.

City may have had little to play for but Scunthorpe still had one eye over their shoulder at the wrong end of the table. Boss Mark Robins had branded them a "joke" after their draw at second-bottom Colchester.

Stead, who had spoken before the game about his desire to win another deal at Valley Parade for next season, had the first shot of a scrappy opening. Liddle's long ball was worked back to him by Clarke and Hanson and he tested Luke Daniels from 20 yards.

Scunthorpe's opening effort, by contrast, went out for a throw-in after a dreadful shank by Gary McSheffrey. At the other end, Liddle volleyed over from a knock-down by Andrew Davies, who had done something similar for an assist in Saturday's equaliser.

The Iron were forced into an early change when midfielder Isaiah Osbourne limped off but there were still too many loose passes from both sides.

As the average fare continued, Ben Williams caused a few shivers at the back with an unconvincing punch from Niall Canavan's lofted free-kick.

City were almost caught out by a training-ground move from another set-piece 25 yards out, Hakeeb Adelakun opting not to shoot but instead picking out the unmarked Neal Bishop. The skipper headed into the goal-mouth, where the white shirts managed to crowd out Theo Robinson.

But Adelakun, the Iron's late goal saviour on Saturday, was not to be denied and charged down the right before squaring for McSheffrey to fire the hosts ahead from 12 yards. It was the first moment of quality in the game.

Having claimed the assist, Adelakun then appeared in his own box to deny Hanson the chance of an immediate response.

Scunthorpe had been lifted by the goal and City found themselves getting pushed further back. Their defending suddenly had a panicky edge – both full backs were finding it tough – and there was little cohesion to the play when the visitors did get the ball.

It threatened to get worse as Bishop bulldozed his way through a wide hole as white shirts parted. But his shot rattled the bar with Williams beaten.

City could not keep hold of possession – a fault that had grown as the half progressed – and Scunthorpe threatened again with Robinson forcing Williams into a low save.

The home side had picked their game up but City needed a spark from somewhere.

Scunthorpe continued to push after the resumption as Paddy Madden slipped past Stephen Darby into the penalty area. Liddle snuffed out the danger with a sliding challenge and took a whack from the striker for his troubles.

Scunthorpe v City match pictures

Liddle had switched to central defence, with Routis pushed up to midfield. But Liddle was caught out by a sharp turn from McSheffrey and was grateful to a vital block from Davies as Robinson lurked in front of goal.

John Lundstram blasted over and Scunthorpe's growing confidence was demonstrated by defender Jordan Clarke's audacious attempt from 40 yards which was not far away.

Routis, getting further forward, swapped passes with Clarke just outside the Scunthorpe box but could not keep his shot down.

But City drew level after 63 minutes – and it was that man Clarke again providing the pick-me-up.

McMahon pressured Marcus Williams into a poor clearance straight to Darby and the captain's deep cross picked out top scorer Clarke to sweep home his second equaliser in four days.

Madden volleyed fiercely straight at the keeper as Scunthorpe tried to redouble their efforts. But City's goal had knocked the stuffing out of them.

Parkinson made a double switch with 13 minutes to go but there was no sign of the youngsters. Instead Halliday and Matty Dolan got the call as Stead and Knott's night was done.

Halliday made an instant impression with two forceful runs, the second halted illegally by Clarke near the penalty area. McMahon rapped the free-kick a yard wide.

The late arrival of Dave Syers against his old club earned applause from both sets of fans. The Scunthorpe crowd then sensed a bigger reason to cheer as Madden created space for a shot but Williams smothered well.

But deep in stoppage time, it should have been City celebrating as McMahon burst between two defenders – only to loft the ball over from close range.

Attendance: 3,176