Match Report from the official site

Looks like we were the better side

\"FULL TIME FROM THE BRADFORD & BINGLEY STADIUM


BRADFORD CITY 0

BARNSLEY 0

BETTER with eleven and much better with ten, Barnsley battered the Bantams at the Bradford & Bingley Stadium for 90 minutes but had to settle for a point after a controversial match in which they completely overran the home side for long periods.

Barnsley boss Andy Ritchie made one change from the side that beat Darlington in the FA Cup with Steven Watt returning in defence. The Reds were forced into a late change with Jacob Burns dropping out of the squad to attend the birth of his child.

The Reds started brightly with Marc Richards almost getting in with just second on the clock but Donovan Ricketts managed to claw the ball away to safety. City responded well with Dean Windass testing Nick Colgan on five minutes with a dipping shot but the Reds keeper was in the right place to make a comfortable save.

A minute later Andrew Taylor was given space to cross but Steven Schumcher was unable to direct his header past Colgan.

Martin Devaney then broke well on seven minutes to skin Damion Stewart down the left and cross but Paul Hayes could only shoot straight at Ricketts.

Bradford should have been in front on 12 minutes as Ben Muirhead tricked his way through the Reds defence before seeing his shot deflected through to Windass, who brought the best out of Colgan with a low shot.

A great ball forward by Watt gave the Reds a great chance on 14 minutes as first Hayes missed his kick and then Chris Shuker saw his goal bound effort deflect away for a corner. Two minutes later Richards managed to turn well in the area but lashed his shot well wide of the target.

Great trickery by Devaney almost brought a goal on 18 minutes as the winger beat two players before hammering a shot inches over the top. Seconds later a strong run by Hayes almost created a chance for Howard but the midfielder dragged his shot well wide of the target.

City were always a threat and Windass almost got in on 21 minutes as he raced onto Owen Morrison\'s pass but the ball just had too much on it and the ball was cleared away.

At the other end Stephen McPhail was alert enough to rob Muirhead on 25 minutes and race forward before finding Hayes but this time Ricketts managed to grab his shot before it hit the back of the net.

Again the Reds pressed with Hayes beating four Bradford City players in a foot race to the byline on the half hour and this time he did well to find Richards but his strike partner could only shoot straight at Ricketts from ten yards.

Barnsley, so dominant in the opening half hour, should have had a penalty on 31 minutes as David Weatherall threw Hayes to the floor in the area but the referee gave nothing.

A fantastic opening half hour for Barnsley was wrecked by an appalling refereeing decision on 36 minutes as an albeit poor challenge by Howard on Muirhead was amazingly punished by a straight red card. It was a decision that wrecked the Reds charge and effectively ruined the game as a spectacle.

Windass managed to get in behind Watt for the first time on 40 minutes as he snatched at a loose ball but fired high over the top of Colgan\'s goal.

Barnsley started the second half brightly with Devaney breaking down the left before the winger was pole-axed by Muirhead. Again the referee reached for a card but this time the Bantams winger escaped with a yellow.

The referee again antagonised the Barnsley supporters on 58 minutes when Shuker put in a strong challenge on Morrison. Shuker came away with the ball but amazingly - and because Morrison rolled around on the ground - the official gave a free kick and booked the Reds winger.

Barnsley again should have been in front on the hour mark as McPhail and substitute Matt Carbon combined to send Shuker free but the former Manchester City could only fire into the sidenetting.

Again Barnsley pressed with Devaney tricking his way into the area on 63 minutes and although a Bradford challenge came in, the ball fell to Richards who brought a fine save from Ricketts with a low drive. Richards turned provider two minutes later as he fired in a great cross from the right but this time Devaney saw his shot well blocked away by Lewis Emanuel.

Again the official angered both sides of the crowd on 70 minutes after McPhail tangled with Muirhead. Firstly he booked McPhail for throwing the ball away and then showed Muirhead a second yellow for raising his hands in reaction to reduce both sides to ten men.

Barnsley pressed forward once more on 75 minutes as Hayes fired over the top from distance and then Shuker crossed well a minute later for Devaney to hammer wide of the target.

Nardiello\'s brief cameo as a substitute lasted all of four minutes as he pulled a hamstring chasing Shuker\'s through ball. It was a sad end for the former Manchester United starlet as he limped out of the action and probably out of the first team for a number of weeks.

Bradford finally threatened Colgan\'s goal on 86 minutes as Schumacher lined up but fired high over the top from 30 yards. Barnsley powered forward again minutes later as McPhail\'s inch perfect free kick found Antony Kay in the area but again Ricketts was in the right place to make the save.

If Ricketts\' save was good then Colgan bettered it a minute later as he somehow managed to claw Danny Cadamarteri\'s effort out of the top corner. It was a wonderful save that would be talked about for hours on Match Of The Day had it been made by anyone in the Premiership.

Barnsley flew forward again and Bobby Hassell hammered the ball inches wide of the target on 87 minutes. Kay then picked up his fifth caution of the season for handball after being beaten by Windass.

BRADFORD CITY: Ricketts, Taylor, Weatherall, Bower, Schumacher, Windass, Morrison, Crooks, Muirhead (OFF 70), Stewart (Emanuel 27), Claridge (Cadamarteri 62).

Subs: Kearney, Cooke, Howarth.

BARNSLEY: Colgan, Hassell, Austin, Devaney, Kay, Watt (Carbon 58), McPhail, Shuker, Richards (Nardiello 79 (Tonge 84)), Howard (OFF 36), Hayes.

Subs: Williams, Flinders.