Carlisle United vs Bradford City. Sky Bet League Two.
Brunton ParkAttendance6,039.
Thursday 26 December 2019 19:02, UK
Bradford extended their unbeaten run to five games with a 0-0 draw against Carlisle but they missed chances that might have turned one point into all three.
Chris Taylor hit the post in the first half and Paudie O'Connor wasted an outstanding chance late on for the Bantams as struggling Carlisle finished the game happier with the draw.
An even first half failed to produce any goals, although both sides had chances from long range, with Nathan Thomas Carlisle's main danger man.
His shot from just outside the penalty area had City goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell scrambling across his line as it flew just wide of the left-hand post and Thomas again occupied three defenders before firing a right-foot effort that was straight at O'Donnell.
Taylor, a late Bradford change - coming in for Harry Pritchard, came close to opening the scoring in the 32nd minute with a solo run through the middle and shot which had Carlisle goalkeeper Adam Collin beaten but rebounded back into play off the foot of the keeper's right-hand post.
Collin had to be on his mettle in the 62nd minute to parry Callum Cooke's shot from inside the area before Carlisle responded with a chance for substitute Harry McKirdy, whose effort to find the far right corner of the goal was thwarted by O'Donnell's outstretched leg.
Aramide Oteh skimmed the bar with Collin wrong-footed, but the home goalkeeper was in position to beat away a bullet of a shot from Kelvin Mellor as City tried to turn the screw on their hosts.
The best chance of the game fell to O'Connor six minutes from time but, with the goal gaping, he skied his shot over the bar from seven yards out.
