CITY 1 BARROW 1

SAME old City cannot beat the likes of …. and fill in the name of a suitably unimpressive-sounding opponent here.

It is a phrase that has sprung up frequently ever since the Bantams renewed their occupancy of the fourth tier in 2007.

Dagenham, Barnet, Morecambe, Accrington, Forest Green, Crawley, Stevenage, Harrogate and now Barrow; an expanding list of clubs all disrespectfully dismissed in a barb from frustrated Valley Parade fans when their team have come up short.

This assumption that the best ground and largest fanbase should always equate to three points regardless.

It was an argument predictably revisited after this latest uninspiring result in City’s stuttering current run.

Barrow were worth their point; Mark Cooper once again leaving Valley Parade with some reward to back up previous wins in the dug-out with Forest Green and Swindon.

Derek Adams bemoaned a catalogue of chances being passed up – an annoying habit that City still show no signs of shaking.

But these weren’t all the gilt-edged variety spurned against Walsall; several were from the edge of the box or beyond as the Cumbrians defended doggedly and with plenty of numbers.

So, the air at Valley Parade rang to the sound of boos – it’s been a while.

The discontent was heard as the half-time whistle sounded and the players traipsed off one down.

And there were more when referee Tom Reeves brought the contest to its conclusion and City’s winless league run had stretched to a fourth game.

The rights and wrongs about displaying such displeasure so vocally were debated in the aftermath.

Some pointed out that booing and negativity is hardly going to inspire the players; others claimed that full backing and noisy singing and chanting did not help much either.

Fans may agree to disagree on that but there’s no question that the Bantams continue to under-achieve right now.

Two points from a possible 12 has knocked the shine off that bright start and reminded all of us, not that we needed it, that this division remains a real old slog.

The likes of whoever are not going to bow down to the sheer majesty of League Two’s finest arena or the volume generated by home supporter numbers that will dwarf the rest.

Football doesn’t work like that and never has done.

Teams are at the same level for a reason; there should be no superiority complex or given right to expect any result.

But then, equally, these are the type of home games that anyone with serious promotion ambitions should be targeting.

Barrow are not the same team who clung on last season to keep their heads above the relegation waters. Like most in the division, they have rebuilt and started over and appear better equipped for a far healthier campaign.

But they limped into Valley Parade down to those oft-discussed “bare bones”.

Centre half Festus Arthur, stepping up for the suspended James Jones, had not trained all week after a bad reaction to an injection in his knee.

Their bench featured only six players and one of those, Simon Grayson’s son Joe, had not been eating because of a stomach complaint.

It appeared to be a good time to play them. But City could not take advantage.

The vitriol that followed Adams’ post-match comments about a “very good performance” was understandable. It was patchy fare, okay in parts but not the quality that the manager was talking up publicly.

That may be his way – check some of the interviews after Plymouth games down the years – but supporters were not happy with politician’s answers.

It just adds to the general angst that already appears to be creeping in even at this early stage.

All that will change with a win, a good win. The sooner that City can dig out another Stevenage-style showing the better.

Adams had shown his faith in the team by sticking with the same line-up floored by a late sucker-punch at Gary Bowyer’s Salford.

Same 11, same formation - “if we play in a different way or different style, we might not create the chances that we are,” was the manager’s thinking.

But it needed a strong start on the front foot to feed off the energy of the crowd.

Instead, it was Barrow who came out bouncing to set the tone for another testing afternoon.

Offrande Zanzala, the centre of those incendiary comments from the Barrow end in the summer, should have scored twice before they did.

Having not heeded the warnings as he failed to convert two inviting crosses from Patrick Brough, City fell behind to a low drive from Josh Kay that pinged in off the inside of the post.

The demons of the past hovered menacingly as the home side fought to get back on terms.

Charles Vernam took his one-man show to the Bluebirds, teasing and tormenting – only for menacing individual build-up to be let down by a lack of composure when he pulled the trigger.

The midfield struggled; Alex Gilliead was a by-passed figure, Andy Cook fighting a losing battle against the club where he scored over half a century of goals in non-league.

It could have got even worse had Richard O’Donnell not kept out a deflected shot by Jordan Stevens.

That was arguably the biggest contribution the winger had made on the ground where he spent an anonymous half-season loan.

But it did earn him the Barrow man of the match online – although fair to say the Saturday-night voting had been completely hijacked by Leeds fans.

Adams and his players were left in no doubt about the true public opinion as Valley Parade aired its grumpiness at the break.

Thankfully, things got better in the second half and City were level by the hour.

Callum Cooke and Oscar Threlkeld combined to supply Gareth Evans and his deep cross was converted by Vernam at the far post.

The relief was loud as the mood lifted in anticipation of a late cavalry charge.

There was one big moment as Vernam went clear but Kay’s challenge did enough on his attempt that it rolled agonisingly the wrong side of the post with keeper Paul Farman beaten.

Ironic cheers rang out when Adams finally made his first substitution on 84 minutes; boos then followed when the second saw the withdrawal of Andy Cook rather than City going for it with all three strikers.

The grumbles were back at the end. If Adams didn’t already know, this audience will need to be convinced of City’s capabilities.

A beaming Cooper said he enjoyed the game so much, he'd have paid to watch. It was not a view shared in the stands.