Bradford AFC 1 : 1 Port Vale - Yeates spares Bantams' blushes

Bradford winger Mark Yeates' superb free-kick just before half-time ended his sides' run of three successive home defeats in a 1-1 draw against Port Vale.

The visitors went in front after 12 minutes with a hotly-disputed penalty.

Defender Rory McArdle was judged to have handled a shot from Louis Dodds and, despite Bradford protests, Sunderland referee Seb Stockbridge awarded a penalty and Chris Lines scored from the spot.

However, Bradford equalised in first-half stoppage time when defender Richard Duffy was booked for a foul on Billy Clarke and Yeates scored with a 25-yard free-kick that soared into the top corner of the net.

Bradford midfielder Gary Liddle went closest to scoring for the home side in a fiercely-fought second half, with Vale goalkeeper Chris Neal tipping his 25-yard shot over the crossbar.

Vale's best effort came when substitute Chris Birchall headed the ball against the upright, but neither side could break the deadlock.