Bradford City and Millwall both had to settle for a point at Valley Parade, in arguably the biggest game of the day in League One yesterday afternoon.
It was a fast-paced affair right from the off in West Yorkshire with both sides going for all three points. The Bantams enjoyed more of the ball in the first half but it was the team from South Bermondsey who had the better of the chances, hitting the bar numerous times. The City defense certainly had their work cut out to nullify the threat from the likes of Lee Gregory and Steve Morison. An injury to Matt Kilgallon, after half an hour, threatened to be a real blow to the side but Bradford stood tall and the game stayed at 0-0 going into the break.
Both teams came out firing yet again in the second half and it seemed only a matter of time until a goal arrived. It was that man Gregory who did break the deadlock barely five minutes into the second period. The ever dangerous Gregory was persistent within the Bradford area and eventually made space to slot the ball home into the far bottom corner from close range. Backed by a strong Valley Parade crowd, the Bantams didn’t crumble and came back firing straight away. It was just ten minutes later that they found an equaliser, thanks to the unlikeliest of sources. Mark Marshall was a nuisance all game for the Millwall defense and when he skipped into the area and dragged a shot across goal, Australian left-back James Meredith slid in to score the the back post, sending the Bantams faithful into delirium.
Yet still both sides pushed on for all three points in the last half an hour. The introduction of the likes of Jordy Hiwula and Jed Wallace from both side’s benches couldn’t do enough for either side to find that all-important goal.
The point seemed fair for both sides in what was a tireless affair between two good sides who will no doubt be in and around the play-off positions come the end of the season.
Fans of both sides took to Twitter to react to the game.
Most Bradford fans seemed pleased with the point, recognising the threat posed to them by a strong Millwall side.
Good entertaining stuff but need to be more clinical in front of goal. #sameoldstory #bcafc
— BantamJo (@jegolton) January 21, 2017
Fantastic second half, some of the best football we've played in a long time. Good point against a solid Millwall side! #bcafc
— ßen (@BCAFCBH) January 21, 2017
There were several solid individual performances from the Bantams. Mark Marshall caused trouble all day, James Meredith was tireless up the left-hand side and the ever-consistent Josh Cullen put in yet another good performance.
Good game today, thought we played quite well. Mezza, Marshall and Cullen were class👏🏼 #bcafc
— Matty (@bantamsmatt) January 21, 2017
There’s been some feisty affairs between both the teams and fans in recent times with things boiling over in last season’s play-off’s. With lots of police around the behaviour of both sets of fans was commendable.
https://twitter.com/jamiekarl1988/status/822861694099746816
It was a similar story over on the Millwall hashtag with fans pleased with a point away from home against a serious play-off rival.
Take that all day long today. Bradford a good side. Seven unbeaten – now for another FA Cup scalp. #Millwall
— Mark Litchfield (@IAmTheLitch) January 21, 2017
A draw up there is a good result 👏🏻 #Millwall
— James Egan (@jmegan1985) January 21, 2017
One Lions fan was keen to praise the supporters of the Bantams. The West Yorkshire club regularly notch up crowds of around 18,000 in the third tier of English football.
https://twitter.com/billycostello_/status/822858482156183553
Young centre back Jake Cooper was making his debut for the Lions and he put in a good performance at the heart of the defense.
Happy with that point , well done #Millwall . Good debut by Jake Cooper too . Now for the journey home #awaydays #COYL 🦁💙💪🏻
— DenLions69 (@Den123Happy) January 21, 2017
Lowly Oldham are up next in the league for the Bantams in a game where fans will be wanting all three points. Meanwhile Millwall will be looking to go eight unbeaten in an all-London FA Cup tie against Premier League Watford.
