CITY 2 SUTTON 2

LET’S get the disrespectful “it’s only Sutton” negative narrative out the way straight off.

Anyone seeing this result without knowing the story behind it would probably shrug and mutter about typical City.

As we all know, the Bantams have got dodgy previous against league new boys stepping out at Valley Parade for the first time.

Dagenham, Forest Green, Crawley, Salford, Yeovil and Harrogate last season all came away from BD8 with something from their debut visit – Dagenham, in fact, never lost in five trips.

Apart from a 2010 win over Stevenage, when Peter Taylor’s team were still booed off, the Bantams have proved to be far too considerate hosts for new opponents starry-eyed by the surroundings.

So, Sutton’s name can be added to that long list who took something home from a fixture that would have jumped out on their calendar.

Yet another draw was City’s sixth in seven – and their tally of 11 from 21 games has already equalled the figure for the whole of last season.

The date of the fixture, too, falling nine years to the day that Arsenal were magnificently vanquished on the same stage brought inevitable down-the-nose comparisons with the present position.

But that also conveniently brushes over the fact that the Capital One Cup quarter-final was sandwiched between a narrow win over Torquay and tossing away a two-goal lead at Southend in the league.

Even with what would follow, it was far from all glitz and glamour in that history-making campaign.

League Two, as Derek Adams pointed out in the dressing room after the final whistle, is not always down to the team who play the best.

Sweat, toil and sheer bloody-mindedness are all key ingredients for any side with ambitions to finish at the right end in May.

Some points and some draws are bigger than others. And all things considered, this fell into that pretty significant category.

Circumstances conspired to make this arguably the most hard-fought reward since Adams took charge.

Playing with 10 men for an hour, twice behind, and doing it all on the back of a quick turnaround from a poor night against Colchester in midweek that had extended this winless run. Draws have rarely felt so good.

Not a result for the highlights reel maybe but certainly one that demonstrates that the spirit is very much there in this squad.

Don't get me wrong. It still needs a January makeover and an injection of quality if City are going to find the extra gears required to get among the division’s pace-setters.

The lack of necessary strength in depth has been exposed by the injuries that have dogged the season from the start. It will take more than one month's window.

There are obvious shortcomings but, on this evidence, character isn’t one of them.

There was a glint in the manager’s eye when he spoke glowingly afterwards.

Adams, you feel, enjoys a bit of backs-to-the-wall adversity; a sense of “us against the world” to get the blood pumping.

“When I came to the football club, I was told you can’t go on the running track or you’ll injure players,” he said.

“Well, that’s why you go to the running track – to work hard and show that you have that mental strength to keep on going.

“We played on Wednesday night and these players can run and they can play. That will get them far.”

The hefty blow was delivered just half an hour in when captain Niall Canavan was sent packing for a professional foul.

City had enjoyed the better chances up to that point but typically the scoreline remained goalless. Déjà vu, all over again.

Sutton boss Matt Gray had already teed up his club’s first Valley Parade visit by announcing that “any away point is a good point” in the build-up.

Their gameplan appeared clear when right back Jon Barden held up play for nearly two minutes to tie his bootlaces.

But then Omar Bugiel found himself goal-side after Canavan stumbled on the ball. The City skipper, left trailing in his wake, panicked and knocked him down before the striker could get a shot off.

With no obvious attempt to play the ball, Canavan could not call on the “double jeopardy” rule as referee Peter Wright brandished the red card.

City were a man down and very quickly one down as Rob Milsom dispatched the penalty before celebrating a bit too gleefully in front of the Kop.

A long and potentially prickly afternoon beckoned for a Valley Parade audience who had not witnessed their team triumph since October 2.

Or maybe not. Two minutes later and City had a free-kick in Sutton territory.

Elliot Watt, delivering by far his most influential performance of an up-and-down term, swung the ball into the mix where Theo Robinson’s header proved too strong for keeper Dean Bouzanis.

The fans, still simmering from the over-exuberant Sutton goal celebration, roared their approval and took on the mantle of the 11th man in their captain’s enforced absence.

They could see the commitment from their short-handed team and relished the fight.

Forget the comparative size of the two clubs, City had assumed the underdog status against an opponent with twice as many wins so far and wondering how this clear opportunity to add to that haul was slipping through their fingers.

Sutton could have been back ahead by half-time but the hosts just about survived a goal-mouth free-for-all from a corner.

The pictures suggested at least a hint of hand ball against Lee Angol as he thwarted long-serving Sutton defender Louis John on the line.

Adams claims City have not had a break in their favour all season – the evidence suggested otherwise.

He switched formation to 4-4-1 for the second half, Angol and Alex Gilliead protecting the flanks while Levi Sutton and Watt ran and ran some more in the middle.

It was working well in restricting Sutton to very little until Sam Hornby palmed Ricky Korboa’s cross-shot straight on to Alistair Smith’s head to restore the Sutton advantage with 15 minutes left.

The visitors danced in front of their 187 travelling fans. City’s weary and depleted troops surely weren’t getting back up from that one.

But forward five minutes and they were knocking on the door once more.

Watt fed Oscar Threlkeld, who moved the ball on to Sutton still finding enough energy to burst into the box.

His low cross picked out Angol lurking at the far post to level for a second time.

The scorer then raced into the net to retrieve the ball with the mindset of getting one more.

That did not materialise but City’s heart and determination not to fold earned the ovation at the final whistle.

“This group have shown really good resilience,” said Adams. “That’s something I’ve always tried to instil in them and I’m seeing that now.

“I’m trying to work them hard to have that and not know when they’re beaten and not feel sorry for themselves.

“We have to keep on going and they’ve shown real strength in mentality.”