DAVID Hopkin can see the belief returning to City after their first fightback of the League One season.

Hope Akpan’s equaliser at former club Burton this afternoon earned the Bantams a well-deserved 1-1 draw.

Amazingly it was the first time in the entire campaign they have come back to get a point after going behind. City had conceded right on half-time through a Lucas Akins header.

Hopkin said: “Burton hadn’t really created anything in the game. Then one run and somebody doesn’t go with him, steps in and crosses in the box and you’re 1-0 down – it was too simple.

“The half-time team talk changes and I said to the players that everybody now in the Football League will expect us to get beaten.

“We needed to show a wee bit of character to get something from the game – and I thought we were fantastic second half.

“I think the players are believing in themselves. We need to know where we are now.

“We’ve got to be competitive in every game we play and we showed that in the second half.”

Akpan scored his first City goal and almost had another in stoppage time but his header was brilliantly saved.

Hopkin’s men were also adamant they should have had a penalty for a shove on Lewis O’Brien.

The Bantams boss added: “Everybody in the stadium was waiting for the referee to point to the spot. It was a great run from Lewis, he’s just about to put it on his chest and he’s pushed in the back.

“But great credit to the players. We had two or three more good opportunities.

“Going to Burton was always going to be a tough ask but we should have come away with three points.

“I know Burton hit the post in the last few minutes but it would have been a travesty if we’d lost.

“It’s small steps but I’m delighted with how people played. I thought Calum Woods was fantastic on his debut.

“People were asking about him only playing his third game but Paul Caddis had done nothing when he came in.

“They are experienced and very assured defenders and I thought today the back four should have had a clean sheet.”