Fleetwood 1, City 1

THE trigger arm of the assistant referee kyboshed the perfect celebration party for Phil Parkinson's new contract.

Close examination of the match DVD on the team coach home showed the City boss that Darren Strain probably had got it right to flag Steven Davies for offside as he "scored" with the final touch of the game.

Three points to mark the extra three years for the manager and his staff would have been a just return for an afternoon that had started in calamitous fashion before picking up considerably.

But the draw continued the upward trend since the squad were hauled in by Parkinson for that post-Gillingham dressing down.

Continuity is the key word on and off the field.

Parkinson and his coaching team have been given the opportunity to maintain the work that has revolutionised the club since his arrival four years ago.

Meanwhile, the side that he has assembled with the aim of pushing towards the League One play-off spot they narrowly missed last season provided more evidence they are going the right way.

The frustration that greeted linesman Strain's stoppage-time decision was proof that City should have been walking away from the West Lancashire sunshine with more than just a point.

After a shaky opening 15 minutes, the visitors had enjoyed the upper hand. Backed by a noisy sold-out following, Parkinson's side carved out all the best chances.

It did show that Devante Cole was human after all. After two goals in his first two outings, the Midas touch for once deserted the youngster. On another day, he would have been lapping up the plaudits for two more.

He should have buried the header presented by Stephen Darby's cross. But from six yards out right in front of goal, the striker fluffed his lines and sent a golden opportunity flashing past the post.

Dad Andrew, sitting among the City directors, buried his flat-capped head in his hands in disbelief.

Then ten minutes later, Billy Knott slid a pass through for Cole in a flashback to Oldham. The finish was just as clinical – only the ball refused to read the script and pinged back into play off the inside of the upright.

"I couldn't believe that didn't go in," sighed Parkinson afterwards. "But that little bit of Lady Luck just deserted us."

The Bantams boss had been cursing his side's misfortune only a couple of minutes into a contest where the gusty wind always provided an unpredictable factor.

Keeping the same side that had done the job at Boundary Park, Parkinson watched them fall behind to a nightmarish goal.

Jimmy Ryan whipped in a free-kick from way out and the conditions played their part to add velocity as the ball came in.

Suddenly Ben Williams found himself carried backwards as he went to claim, crossing the line as he tried in panic to push the ball away. Instead of tipping it up and over, he only palmed it straight to Fleetwood striker Jamille Matt to make sure.

There was some dispute over the scorer, although that man Strain's instant reaction to flag the goal confirmed that it was already in direct from Ryan. But there was no argument about where the blame lie.

Williams has looked pretty solid since Brad Jones arrived at the club but the clamour for the Australian's inclusion for next weekend's derby date with Sheffield United will undoubtedly grow now.

Fleetwood v City match pictures

Parkinson said: "That's the life of a goalkeeper. You make one mistake and it's highlighted.

"Ben will be disappointed but he's been excellent for us. It was a freakish goal. He got caught out by the wind. It's a very open ground and the wind was just swirling."

City had chosen to play into the elements so they could attack their own fans second half. So Fleetwood flung everything their way in those opening stages, hitting long early balls towards the towering front pair of Matt and Jamie Proctor.

It made for an afternoon when central defenders had to earn their stripes. Rory McArdle and Reece Burke certainly did that, the West Ham youngster demonstrating once again what a talent he is going to be.

Parkinson admitted this would be the most demanding examination of the 18-year-old so far and the teenager never flinched a muscle.

He refused to be bullied in the air and stood his ground against arguably the most physical front two you will see in the division, dealing with corners and long throw-ins.

Having been caught on their heels by that early strike, City soon set about finding their feet – and they levelled midway through the first half from their first shot at goal.

Home defender Conor McLaughlin, fresh back from international duty with Northern Ireland, looked like his head was still in the clouds when he cheaply gave the ball away on halfway.

Cole led the black shirts on the counter before Fleetwood old boy Josh Morris overlapped on his left to take the pass.

He clipped a cross into the six-yard box, where James Hanson was waiting to volley his third goal of the campaign.

Mind you, given the way that Hanson got absolutely no support from the officials all game, you half-expected a whistle for some imaginary infringement or other.

It got so bad for Hanson that at one stage he stood and laughed as yet another call went against him while an opponent lay on the floor.

You wonder if the striker has picked up an unwanted reputation that is now going before him.

Think of the pre-match conversation in the referees' room: "Look at the number of fouls Hanson gives away ... he must be a dirty player?"

When he was allowed to get on with his game, Hanson whistled another volley on the turn inches wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Cole then went even closer twice after the break as City pressed for a winner.

That looked to have arrived in the fourth added minute when Davies emerged victorious through the scrum from Lee Evans' free-kick. But the eagle-eyed Strain was having none of it.

Still, eight points from 12 sets City up nicely for the tasty televised clash with the Blades.

Parkinson said: "After the Gillingham game, we faced three of the next four away. It was a real test of what we're all about and we've come though that little period in good shape."

Attendance: 4,044