Bradford City 2

Colchester United 2

Dean Windass was City's two-goal hero but it was Coca-Cola manager of the month Colin Todd who saved City's bacon with an inspired tactical move late in the game.

The Bantams, playing for the first time in their new home strip, were 2-1 down and heading nowhere when Todd brought on forgotten man Jason Gavin at the heart of the City defence, hauled off the ineffective Darren Holloway and switched Ben Muirhead to the right flank.

Suddenly City had more potency and that man Windass drilled in his second goal of the game to rescue a point for City.

Colchester looked anything but a side who had won only once in six games. City were after all chasing their fifth home league win on the bounce, but in the end were happy with the point.

At times the City defence was run ragged, with Gavin Johnson a constant menace. He gave Colchester an early lead with an excellent header from a Joe Keith corner.

City had opened brightly enough with Muirhead bursting into the Colchester penalty area in the opening minute. He could have given the Bantams a dream start but tried to round the keeper instead of shooting and the chance was lost.

David Wetherall went close with two headers after Colchester's opening goal but then the visitors rocked City again when the excellent Craig Fagan saw a shot cannon off a post.

And Paul Henderson had to pull off a fine save from Blackburn Rovers midfielder Neil Danns before Windass cracked in that marvellous equaliser after Dele Adebola had flicked on a defence-splitting header.

Minutes later, Adebola embarked on a tremendous run before being stopped just short of the visitors' penalty area.

But it was Colchester who looked the most dangerous and Johnson brought another good save out of Henderson.

John Swift, just turned 20 and making his debut for City, brought the crowd to their feet with a long-range curler which just flashed past the post.

But it was no real surprise when the visitors went into the lead again.

Sloppy play from Holloway let in Johnson, who was quick to fire in his second off the underside of the bar.

After the break City were more ineffective than the first half. Johnson brought a save out of Henderson, and Muirhead was trying to lift City with his pace and went on a dazzling run before hammering the ball over the bar.

Then Muirhead combined with Lewis Emanuel and again had a go at goal but again the ball flashed over the bar.

Colchester were looking in control though and it was here that Todd pulled off his masterstroke. Gavin came on and young Swift was moved to right back, allowing Muirhead to switch flanks.

Windass was fouled just outside the box and expectations were high but the bottle-blond fired over from the free-kick.

But Windass was to have the final say. A cross from Mark Bower fell to him and the striker turned on a sixpence and fired in an unstoppable shot.

Despite 27 fouls littering the match, it was not a nasty game; Emanuel and Sam Stockley, though, were booked for 'swinging handbags'.

But considering Colchester had forced 11 corners and peppered the City goal with shots in an attacking display, a draw is not such a bad result and keeps the Bantams in touch with the leaders.

Todd was full of praise for his two-goal hero.

"He is vital to the club. He had a lot to do scoring that second goal but that is the hallmark of a good striker."