BURTON 1 CITY 1

THE angle from the Pirelli Stadium press box looked reassuringly familiar.

Close your eyes and visualize those voltage cherry shirts, James Hanson’s thudding low drive, the roar of ecstasy from behind that goal.

Golden memories of a special comeback, overturning a home deficit on the road to Wembley and play-off glory.

On the other hand, City’s last visit to the home of the Brewers before Saturday had been enough to turn the soberest supporter to drink.

Shudder at recalling Phil Parkinson trying Chris Routis on the right in a midfield diamond and the inevitable defeat that followed.

Yet, that Bantams side would pick themselves up and launch a charge to the play-offs from that point. Spurred by the shrewd capture of Josh Cullen, they barely looked back.

Only time will tell whether the weekend point on City’s return to Staffordshire three years on can spark a similar revival.

Hope Akpan’s first goal for the club, while long overdue, will hardly be placed on the same pedestal as that Hanson rocket of 2013.

But it marked a much-needed halt to the recent slide that once again has fears of relegation looming large in everyone’s thoughts.

If David Hopkin can follow Parkinson’s lead with a couple of key captures of his own this week, then maybe the current side can emulate a similarly profitable run down the home straight.

Success for City now represents finishing 20th and above that dreaded line – a gap they have trimmed to three points.

The next few days, on and off the pitch, appear crucial in the destiny of their season.

Hopkin has until 11pm on Thursday to land the reinforcements he is constantly pursuing. Another striker, preferably a couple, and a winger must be secured by then.

And in the meantime, City look to negotiate a fixture that has become arguably their biggest so far.

There is no underplaying the importance of Tuesday’s Valley Parade visit from Shrewsbury.

One of the three sides locked on 31 points just outside the drop zone, a City victory would claw them and others into the mix. It would be a significant psychological blow to open up League One’s survival club to more unwilling members.

To fail, of course, would make the task that much harder for the Bantams and suck the belief restored by finally coming up with the season’s first comeback.

Not since Charlie Wyke gratefully accepted a last-minute equaliser on a plate at Rochdale in April had City recovered from falling behind in a league game.

But Burton witnessed new ground, for this troubled campaign at least, as the Bantams proved that it is possible to get back off the floor.

Akpan’s scrambled leveller finally crossed a line through that embarrassing stat, answering Hopkin’s half-time plea to prove the outside critics wrong.

It was a cathartic moment not just for the team but no doubt the scorer himself.

Akpan’s reaction to jog away rather than launch into any wild celebration may have been out of respect for his former club.

It seemed a subdued response to his first goal since scoring in both of Burton’s final two games in the Championship.

But beneath the surface he must have felt a point had been made as he crowned by far his most effective performance in claret and amber.

Akpan will be the first to admit that there has not been a lot of competition. On-off injuries have made for a bitty year at Valley Parade; when he has played, he has generally appeared off the pace and a shadow of the box-to-box player City believed they had recruited.

Back on his old stamping ground, though, the midfielder looked every inch that strong central presence we have been waiting for.

He was involved, willing and eager to push forward; appearing in the Burton penalty area with a genuine end product to his play.

But for an alert last-ditch save from Brad Collins, Akpan would have been the two-goal hero from his firm downward header in stoppage time.

City need to see that type of powerful display every week now; not just for the benefit of his previous employers.

Akpan has considerably raised his personal bar. Keep it that high, as he hopes to do in emulating a much more influential second half of the season last year, and he can be a big figure in the tests ahead.

His link-up with Lewis O’Brien, back to busy normality after a surprising off day against Southend, built the platform for Jack Payne and David Ball to rediscover the zest to their play.

Ball, in particular, really shone on City’s right side and proved an elusive opponent to pin down for a team still recovering from trying to lay a finger on Manchester City.

Nigel Clough may have made seven changes from their Carabao Cup swansong but there was still an obvious feeling of “after the Lord Mayor’s show” about the place. The press contingent numbered beyond 80 for last Wednesday – there was not even a third of that three days on.

City looked to cash in on any Burton lethargy as Akpan signalled his intentions with a shot that Collins palmed into the air. Payne knocked in the rebound but the flag was up for a marginal offside.

The Burton keeper then showed great reflexes to thwart Eoin Doyle’s near-post flick before Akpan popped up in his own goal mouth to deny Liam Boyce on the line.

But the hosts struck virtually on the half-time whistle. Payne neglected to follow John Brayford’s meandering run and the defender’s cross was nodded in by an unmarked Lucas Akins.

Richard O’Donnell fingered Scott Fraser’s shot on to the bar as City’s vocal away following sensed the inevitable conclusion to being behind again.

But Akpan tore up that tiresome script midway through the second half after Payne’s drilled cross had caused confusion.

A frantic finish saw Burton sub David Templeton cursing the woodwork once more and Collins pulling off another excellent save from Akpan.

But the comeback curse had been lifted. We will find out in the coming days what impact that could have on City’s fortunes.