LATICS were made to battle for a share of the spoils in a frantic Roses clash.

The visitors began the game unchanged from the side which beat Blackburn 1-0 on Saturday . . . the fact we started at all was a bonus after one of the Valley Parade floodlights went out during the warm up.

An electrician was called and drama averted 20 minutes before kick-off.

Latics fans may have wished to remain in the dark when Bradford were first to spark into life just three minutes in. Paul Taylor’s unstoppable effort from outside the box sailing into the top corner. Johny Placide in the visitors’ goal had no chance as Latics began this one way off the pace compared with recent weeks.

Richie Wellens - now unbeaten in five - always said this would be Latics’ hardest test against a side he rates as the best in the division. Maybe it was simply a case of a few weary legs after Saturday’s mammoth effort. Whatever the case, The Bantams were bouncing and first to every ball.

A good 15 minutes had passed before Latics finally started to feel their way into the match.

When the industrious Dan Gardner’s driving run found Jack Byrne, the Dubliner played a delicious low cross across the box which Eoin Doyle connected with but his namesake ’keeper managed to parry.

Gevaro Nepomuceno’s fierce effort was also dealt with by Colin Doyle moments later. Latics had connected to the mains – at last – and it wasn’t long before they were level.

Doyle latched on to a neat through ball and calmly slotted home underneath the onrushing ’keeper on 24 minutes in front of a large – and noisy – travelling contingent.

In a competitive game high on energy played in front of a cauldron of sound as all Roses clashes should, Latics skipper Peter Clarke was forced into some typically heroic defending inside the danger area as the home side pressed. It was a real Braveheart moment.

Latics were definitely under the cosh – only a charging run down the right by Cameron Dummigan punctuating wave after wave of Bradford attacks with Latics no doubt relieved to get to the break on level terms.

The visitors at least started brighter in the second half, getting more of a grip of possession in midfield and looking a threat going forward.

Craig Davies almost put Latics ahead with a close range volley from a right wing Byrne corner on 58 minutes but the effort was well saved.

Placide in the Latics goal – who, incidentally began the move for Athletic’s first half equaliser with a trick local magician Dynamo would have been proud of – was never seriously troubled in the second half.

The referee produced a yellow card for visibly distraught Bradford skipper Romain Vincelot with just under a quarter of an hour to go as tempers flared.

Chants of “he’s going to cry in a minute” priceless from the away end, even more so when he was substituted six minutes later.

The game threatened to spill over when an almighty melee in the middle of the pitch led to a lengthy delay as the referee struggled to identify the culprits – seemingly booking players at will as fans from all sections gave him an ironic drumroll.

“Sacked in the morning” now the cry as the man in black – who would go on to add six minutes – struggled to cope.

It didn’t matter as Latics not only held out but were in the end slightly disappointed not to take all three points. How times have changed.

Latics (4-4-2): Placide 7, DUMMIGAN 9, Bryan 7, Clarke 7, Hunt 7; Gardner 8 (Omrani 78), Fane 7, Byrne 7 (Flynn 90), Nepomuceno 7 (Menig 63); Davies 7, Doyle 8. Subs (not used): Ruddy, Brian Wilson, Gerrard, Banks.

Booked: Bryan, Hunt, Omrani.

Bradford: Doyle, Thompson, Chicksen, Reeves, Vincelot (Dieng 79), Law, Wyke, Taylor (Poleon 63), Hendrie, Knight-Percival, Patrick (Gilliead 63) Subs (not used): Raeder, Kilgallon, McCarten, Hanson.

Booked: Thompson, Vincelot, Wyke.

Attendance: 19,840 (986 away).

Referee: Chris Sarginson.