Bradford City 1-1 Notts County

Yet another false dawn, or the sign of Notts finally getting their act together? Today, our beloved and beleaguered team travelled to the Coral Windows Stadium to face the valiant warriors of the 2012/13 Carling Cup, Bradford City, and came away with a point. Gary Liddle scored his first ever goal for Notts just before half time, a few days after having one disallowed but Mark Yeates' equaliser on 69 minutes ensured a share of the spoils for both teams.

Shaun Derry made a couple of changes to the team that lost against Shrewsbury on Saturday: Alan Sheehan was left out of the squad with a suspected knock, Greg Tempest taking his place. Dean Leacock was back in defence, Liddle and Andre Boucaud lined up together in midfield alongside Jack Grealish and Jamal Campbell-Ryce, with Marcus Haber and Danny Haynes up front in a 4-4-2 position. Joss Labadie, like Sheehan, didn't make the team, while Callum McGregor was rested on the bench.

The first chance fell to Nakhi Wells on eight minutes, who, following a headed flick-on from James Hanson, lashed the ball towards goal, but flew wide.

Following a foul on Kyel Reid, a free kick from Gary Jones was well punched away from Bart, but Notts were getting forward at every opportunity, the first serious Notts chance coming from JCR after some great work by Liddle in midfield and a good Kieron Freeman run on 18 minutes.

Just three minutes later, the hosts threatened with a Reid cross which Leacock headed away at the last moment, denying Wells a chance.

Bradford seemed to have drawn first blood, but Rory McArdle's nod-on to Wells was ruled out for offside.

This merely invigorated the Bantams, who then began imposing themselves on the game. On 26, Jones was given too much pace by the Notts players in midfield, but just as he seemed geared up to take a shot, his selflessness proved costly, setting up Reid who fired wide.

Towards the break, Bradford were able to stop Liddle and Manny Smith clearing the ball in the final third, and Wells' follow up shot fell kindly to Bart.

And as people were beginning to stand up to head towards the bar or smoking area to beat the crowds, Notts struck to go into the dressing rooms 1-0 up. Grealish's run down the centre allowed him to play Haynes into the City box. He then whipped a low cross past the home side defence and to Liddle, who prodded the ball in for his first goal in a Notts shirt.

The 15-minute break must have seen Bradford being given the hairdryer treatment by their manager, as they came out with the sheer intent to equalise as soon as possible.

From the off, a Reid cross was deflected out for a corner by Tempest, and the following corner saw a great header from Hanson being emphatically turned away by Bart. Leacock then denied the same player with a great last-ditch block moments later.

Notts had some good chances following on from that barrage, courtesy of Haynes, but Bradford piled forward time and time again, Bart's saves proving crucial more often than not.

However, the equaliser finally came when substitute Yeats fired a long range shot into the bottom left corner, Bart unable to work his magic for once.

The game would finish all square, only our second draw all season, but not before things kicked off in injury time, Haber becoming the umpteenth Notts player to see red this season (a tad harsh this time though), and the red mist even spread to the coaching staff, Greg Abbott being dismissed from the touchline for his heated contributions.