Ade scores in 1:1 Draw

227 Burnley fans travelled over the Pennines to watch the Clarets come away with a 1:1 draw against League 2 outfit, Bradford City at the Intersonic Stadium last night.

Ade Akinbiyi opened the scoring for the Clarets midway through the first-half and will have been pleased to get on the score sheet again after his penalty in the match against Wrexham. Bradford however equalised on the stroke of half-time and the game somewhat petered out in the second-half.

Burnley so far in this pre-season campaign have not been defeated although last night`s match was not a particularly memorable game.

The gaffer had this to say after the match:

"These run outs are always useful and we knew it was going to be a tough game. All in all it is a good work out in what has been a hard pre-season so far. But we chose to have that."

Steve Cotterill did not risk Robbie Blake against his former club. The groin strain ruling him out like it did in the previous match against Boro. Let`s hope he`s fit for the Leeds friendly at Turf Moor on Saturday. Blake will be up for this match having just signed from the troubled Leeds club.

Kyle Lafferty was also absent after a back injury picked up in the match against Middlesbrough

The Clarets therefore lined up as follows for the start of this match:

Jensen, Thomas, Duff, Caldwell, Harley, Jordan, Mahon, Spicer, McCann, Akinbiyi, Gray

Subs: Kiraly, Elliott, Jones, Berisha, Rodriguez, O'Connor, Gudjonsson, Foster.

Stephen Jordan was making his full Clarets debut at left back. Interestingly, his rival for the left back spot Jon Harley was given a role in left midfield. He is not a stranger to this position and maybe this is a position that would suit him better.

Captain, Steve Caldwell, had his work cut-out in the first few minutes and Brian Jensen pulled off a save in the 21st minute to keep out the Bantams.

The Clarets however got the first goal two minutes later. Caldwell passed to Duff who was in a wide position on the right. Duff put in a cross which found Akinbiyi, who toe-poked the ball into the net from eight yards with the keeper coming out to try and stop him scoring.

Bradford`s Mark Bower came close to equalising after 29 minutes. He volleyed wide though from inside the six yard box following a free kick.

However in the 43rd minute Bradford did get the equaliser and on the evidence of play fully deserved it. Daley foiled Jensen and his shot went just inside the far post.

1:1 at half-time and surprisingly only one change made for the start of the second half with Kiraly replacing Jensen

However further changes were soon made with Wade Elliott, Steve Jones, Joey Gudjonsson, and James O'Connor coming on in the 54th minute.

The first real chance of the second-half fell to Wade Elliott but he fluffed a cross from Jones on the edge of the six-yard box.Jones himself then volleyed wide at the far post from a cross by Elliott.

Besart Berisha came on for the under par Gray on 66 minutes partnering Ade Akinbiyi.

Bradford however came the closest to scoring with 15 minutes left on the clock. Nix bent a free kick around the wall from 30 yards bringing out an excellent save from Kiraly.

Wayne Thomas then seemed to be involved in a bit of pure farce after colliding with his team mate Foster with 10 minutes to go. Foster had a cut to his head and Thomas also needed treatment.

The Clarets were down to nine men for a few minutes as the defenders both got treatment.

'Wayne Thomas and Stephen Foster both needed stitches after a bit of a lack of communication. But I would rather two of them go for it than none!' said Cotterill after the match

That was it though and with no further action the game came to a close although Jay Rodriguez again got a few minutes to try and impress after replacing Akinbiyi on 86 minutes

Next up Leeds this Saturday at Turf Moor before the Club complete their pre-season matches in Austria.

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Burnley: Jensen (Kiraly 46), Thomas, Duff (Foster 64), Caldwell, Harley, Jordan (Elliott 54), Mahon (Jones 54), Spicer (Gudjonsson 54), McCann (J O'Connor 54), Akinbiyi (Rodriguez 86), Gray (Berisha 66).

Att: 2,705 (227 visiting)

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