BATTLING COUNTY MAKE A POINT
NEWPORT County couldn’t quite reignite their promotion push against Sparky’s men, but they took home a hard-earned point from Valley Parade to stay in the hunt at the top of League Two.
County boss James Rowberry had spoken beforehand of his excitement at pitting his wits against Bradford City’s Mark Hughes and he can be satisfied that his side were a match for the former Wales manager’s men.
The point sees the Exiles move up to fifth in the extremely tight race for promotion from the fourth tier – three points below third-placed Northampton Town but only two ahead of Sutton United in 10th.
Rowberry made three changes, bringing in former Swansea City youngster Aaron Lewis for Ryan Haynes at left-back, and recalling Robbie Willmott and ex-Cardiff City man James Waite in midfield in place of Matty Dolan and injured Swans loanee Oli Cooper.
League Two top scorer Dom Telford had the first opportunity for County in the 13th minute after the in-form Finn Azaz played in Cameron Norman on the right flank and his cross was flicked just wide by Telford.
At the other end, centre-backs James Clarke and Mickey Demetriou had to be alert to deny Andy Cook and Callum Cooke.
Telford had another half chance on 21 minutes but his shot was deflected behind from the edge of the area, before Scot Bennett fired high and wide from distance.
Willmott tried his luck from 25 yards out when a clearance fell invitingly but his shot was straight at Bradford goalkeeper Alex Bass.
Day was called into action for the first time seven minutes before the interval when he got down well to deny Jamie Walker, gathering the ball at the second attempt.
After a cagey first 45 minutes, the second half was more open, and County were close to breaking the deadlock in the first minute when Waite’s ball was just behind the onrushing Rob Street and Norman’s effort was well stopped by Bass.
Day then had to be at his agile best to keep out Cooke’s well-struck effort a minute later.
He then tipped a high ball onto the bar before saving from Walker as Hughes’s men turned up the heat on the Exiles, roared on by their vociferous support.
But the visitors continued to pose a threat and there was a big shout for a penalty a minute later when Norman appeared to be impeded in the box but referee Marc Edwards was unmoved.
Cook fired over the bar for the hosts and Alex Gillead headed wide before Day again came to the rescue with a smart stop from substitute Charles Vernam.
County were hanging on, but they had a big chance to take home all three points at the death only for Demetriou’s shot to flash across goal and wide.
BRADFORD CITY: Bass; Hendrie, Songo’o, O’Connor, Foulds; Watt; Evans (Pereira, 61), Gillead; Cooke (Vernam, 60); Walker (Lavery, 77), Cook Subs not used: O’Donnell, Kelleher, Sutton, Delfouneso NEWPORT COUNTY: Day; Norman, Clarke (Haynes, 73), Demetriou, Lewis; Bennett (Dolan, 82), Willmott; Waite, Azaz; Telford, Street (Fisher, 73). Subs not used: Townsend, Bright, Ellison, Collins
REFEREE: Marc Edwards ATTENDANCE: 14,716