Latics are left wanting more

HEAD TURNER . . . Athletic skipper Peter Clarke rises above the Bradford City defence to put his side in front

ATHLETIC left Valley Parade feeling hard-done to.

On the balance of statistics, a point was an outcome to be pleased with.

Bradford had 63-per-cent of possession after laying siege to Stephen Robinson's side for an hour. Twenty-two shots were fired at the outstanding Connor Ripley's goal, seven on target.

But all the ambitious hosts had to show for it was a penalty kick, well-executed by Billy Clarke to level the scores with 57 minutes gone - plenty of time to press for a winner that never came.

Athletic were never anything less than resolute, in spite of officiating that left Robinson with a sour taste.

Leading thanks to skipper Peter Clarke's well-placed header in the fifth minute, soon after came the first spot-kick controversy.

Billy Mckay darted across the area and Romain Vincelot lunged in, getting nowhere near the ball. It appeared to be as clear a penalty as you could see, but referee Ross Joyce was unmoved, perhaps feeling that if there was contact it was embellished by the Athletic striker.

Replays suggest Robinson's side were unfortunate not to be given a chance from 12 yards, after only 13 minutes, to go 2-0 up.

Starting well but eventually subdued into defensive mode, Athletic needed a parity in decision-making in order to somehow maintain that slender lead.

In front of a raucous crowd of 17,793, the decision of the 30-year-old referee as the hour approached angered Robinson and his staff, already peeved by the non-decision concerning Mckay's tumble.

Both line-ups had Law on their side - for Athletic, right-back Josh, for Bradford, brother Nicky - but the visitors were on the end of rough justice when Ousmane Fane tangled with Josh Cullen.

The on-loan West Ham player, a lively presence in midfield, fell to the floor as the much taller Fane's arm went across his chest. It was a tangle of the sort so often seen in penalty areas without sanction.

Joyce wasted little time pointing to the spot, for the third penalty kick in two games for the Bantams, with Billy Clarke sending Ripley the wrong way.

In total, Athletic were penalised 17 times by the referee and five times he produced yellow cards, compared to none for squeaky-clean Bradford.

Athletic had to fend off some seriously high-tempo attacking play from the Bantams - winger Mark Marshall was simply terrific, casting a spell with trickery and pace - but can argue a case that life could have been made more comfortable given a more sympathetic official.

The start to this contest was explosive.

Robinson reverted to the side that saw off Bury seven days earlier, meaning recalls to the starting line-up for Paul Green, Ryan Flynn and Mckay; Brian Wilson, Ollie Banks and Jake Cassidy took up places on the substitutes' bench.

Third in the table and unbeaten in the league, Bradford were second-best as the game opened up and fell behind when Marc Klok swung in a searching cross from a free-kick, allowing Peter Clarke to plant the ball home beyond Colin Doyle.

Up against his former club, Timothee Dieng twice drove wide of goal from the cusp of the box and Marshall provoked an outstanding, flying save from a fierce swerving long-range effort that Ripley did wonderfully well to tip over.

Mckay tumbled and at the other end, Daniel Devine advanced down the middle before shooting inches wide.

A sweeping move saw Josh Law cross beautifully for Mckay, getting in front of his marker, to send a header a foot beyond the far post after 29 minutes.

McCall's men established a firm grip thereafter and Billy Clarke will feel he should have buried a close-range volley from a James Meredith cross shortly before the interval.

With Cameron Burgess in particular impressing at the back, the on-loan Fulham man knocked-in by repeated action and fully on terms with the physical demands of League One, Athletic repelled wave after wave of attacks from a side rated by Robinson as the best his men have yet faced.

Marshall volleyed too close to Ripley, before Fane got to grips with Cullen to present the hosts with the equaliser.

Backs were pressed to the wall and a second for Bradford appeared an inevitability.

Ripley produced another terrific stop, this time from Meredith as Athletic, who played with a narrow midfield, tried to deal with the swarming down the flanks.

Beat us in the middle, Robinson's tough side challenged. Bradford didn't manage it.

Jordi Hiwula air-kicked when presented with an inviting low centre, but when Cullen lashed over from 30 yards after 76 minutes, it was a sign that ideas were running out.

Still they came, though, with Marshall directing a fizzing left-footed drive from 22 yards out a whisker over the top.

IN A NUTSHELL: Athletic hung on for a point - but it could have been even better than that.