Bradford City 0 Carlisle United 0: If this is a sign of how things are to be until May 8, this promotion race is going to keep us on our nerves to the very end. An absorbing, urgent but ultimately bloodless game saw Carlisle back into the automatic places and a potential rival kept at heel.
To get there required a journey as colourful and changeable as a drive over the Pennines. United had the better of the first half, Bradford more of the second. Bradford had the closest shave – then, in the 97th minute, Carlisle did.
In a parallel universe, the Blues’ 1,200 supporters went merrily ballistic at the sight of Jordan Gibson’s shot hitting the inside of the post and then rolling into Bradford’s net.
In the real world, Gibson’s left-footed shot scudded against the metalwork and came back out. Millimetres separated victory and draw, second and third. Margins, as ever.
It was compelling all the way to that final kick. Carlisle reached 45 minutes frustrated they didn’t lead, and 90 probably glad of the draw. Such is life in these high-stakes battles.
In the shakedown, it’s a point on the road, another clean sheet, another unbeaten game against a hostile rival, and a good basis from which United must now look to restore goals at this defining stage of the season.
In industry, effort and intent, Carlisle turned up here. In matchwinning poise, less so. Yet Bradford, who were attempting to barge into the Blues’ personal space in the League Two table, failed to connect their chances too.
Andy Cook, inevitably, came closest, hitting the crossbar and on a couple of occasions making United defend at their most desperately (in a good way). A badge of honour can go to a side that has prevented ‘League Two’s answer to Erling Haaland’ – as per Sky Sports’ headline – from scoring in both meetings this season.
Mark Hughes’ side, although drawing plenty, are not in the losing habit either. Honours even was a steady outcome, then, for United to take on their way home, before loading the coach for more away trips: Gillingham next, then Leyton Orient.
READ MORE: Bradford City v Carlisle United - as it happened
The demands, the tests, keep coming. Carlisle had to tackle this one without Paul Huntington, victim of a “mild” abdominal tear, yet Ben Barclay stepped in admirably. United’s other defenders did resolute work when required while Callum Guy did an amount of midfield graft that no longer surprises.
Valley Parade under the lights is always a picture. This, though, was all about the detail. Simpson refreshed his attack with Ryan Edmondson and Kristian Dennis, and Carlisle set up not to contain Bradford and their Cook-spearhead, but to push them back.
They grew sharply into things as the first half unfolded, winning the ball back, getting on the right side of 50-50s and building, especially later in the half, some relentless passages of play.
While Bradford’s search for the right-wing speed of Scott Banks brought fading results, United’s greater substance produced half-chances. Joel Senior hit one against a defender, Dennis came close to lunging onto a Jack Armer cross, Jon Mellish nearly profited from an Armer knock-down and Edmondson’s header failed to go either side of Harry Lewis.
At the other end, Morgan Feeney was leading a committed campaign to nullify Cook, and this task grew harder after the break, as Bradford looked to respond to United’s failure to make the most of their play.
Hughes’ side emerged with fresh lead in their pencil. Cook, at last, got the chance to test United and, after he rumbled in from the right, it took a last-ditch Feeney interception to deny him.
A while later, when Cook received the ball in the box, blue-shirted players appeared from all angles to try and stop him. They succeeded en-masse. There was a good half-hour still to go.
Carlisle still occupied reasonable areas on the break but could not summon a creative touch. What they did summon, at least, was a biting determination to guard their goal. Senior did vital work to intercept Harry Chapman, then Feeney deflected a Cook shot against the frame after Richie Smallwood had powered through to keep a chance alive.
Simpson’s changes – Patrick and Garner for Edmondson and Dennis – occupied Bradford but not in a punishing way. Carlisle could not stop Bradford cantering back at them, but could stop them reaching Tomas Holy’s goal.
The keeper saved one late Cook drive, and it was engrossing all the way until the moment which, on another night, went straight into the annals of United melodrama: Gibson, jeered off the bench by fans of his former club, shifting in from the right then fizzing a shot past Lewis.
Not to be. No goals at all – but ample drama, a fair result and degrees of quality and endeavour that you had to admire. So on we go.
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