Tranmere Rovers rescued a point against Bradford City at Valley Parade on Friday afternoon.
Callum McManaman’s late equaliser was enough to earn Rovers a point following Jamie Walker’s header first half header.
It was the home side who started the brightest and sustained early pressure on the Rovers goal. Two successive crosses into a good area were well defender by Petr Clarke.
Tranmere didn’t read the warning signs however as on 18 minutes, Bradford put themselves ahead. A cross from the right was glanced into the far right corner and beyond Joe Murphy by Jamie Walker.
Ten minutes later, the home side were reduced to 10 men. Elliott Watt, who had only been booked five minutes earlier, steamed in on Lee O’Connor with a late tackle and was given his marching order by referee Carl Boyeson.
With a man advantage, Rovers started to create more chances. Sam Foley’s header landed on the roof of the net from Dacres Cogley’s cross before another header from Foley landed inches past the far post from a similar position.
Micky Mellon made two half time changes as Josh Hawkes and Callum McManaman replaced Jay Spearing and Lee O’Connor.
McManaman got straight into the action, picking out Merrie on the edge of the box whose right footed shot rose just over the bar.
Despite having most of the ball, Rovers struggled to carve out ,any clear cut chances in the second half and it was the hosts who threatened with 15 minutes left. A lofted free kick was met by Songo’o on the volley but Murphy reacted brilliantly to deny him.
With time running out, up stepped McManaman with a moment of quality to get an important equaliser. He collected the ball on the right, ran at Ridehalgh and shot low into the far corner off the post with nothing Bass could do about it in the Bradford net.
With Tranmere pushing for a winner, the home side so very nearly stole it at the death. Lee Angol broke the offside trap to go one on one with Murphy but his effort cannoned back off the woodwork to spare Tranmere’s blushes.
The points were shared at Valley Parade with another all important game coming up on Easter Monday against Exeter City at Prenton Park.
Tranmere team: Murphy, Dacres-Cogley, Davies, Clarke, Merrie, Spearing (Hawkes 45), Warrington, O’Connor (McManaman 45’), Foley, Nevitt (Maynard 63’), Hemmings