Rochdale 0 Bradford City 0
City were left rueing their missed chances after a feisty affair at Spotland where the hosts had winger Bobby Grant sent off for serious foul play following a challenge on Rory McArdle.
Within the first minute both sides had decent chances to score; City's came first when the ball fell kindly to Kyel Reid 20 yards from goal but he blazed well over, and seconds later George Donnelly powered forward through a couple of challenges to thunder a shot into the side netting.
The Bantams were looking dangerous from crosses, particularly through the left foot of Kyel Reid and it was one of his crosses that found Atkinson to nod back across goal, Hanson, however, couldn't keep his header down.
City were beginning to look the better side, with the hosts having to at times rely on the counter attack. Hines' delivery from a freekick, was glanced towards goal by McArdle but Josh Lillis held well.
Ten minutes before half time Bobby Grant was dismissed by referee Mr J Adcock after flying into a challenge with Rory McArdle; the away following who had full sight of it were furious, and the winger was correctly red carded after a rash foul on the Northern Ireland international.
Just into the second half Ravenhill squandered a great opportunity to score after Wells had been forced off the ball, but the stand-in skipper hit his firm shot straight at Lillis; either side of him and it would've probably been 1-0.
City kept pressing but Rochdale were staying tight at the back; Nahki Wells was the next to try his luck with a shot, The Bermudian opting to fire towards goal from 30 yards. The shot had plenty of power but 'Dale' stopper Josh Lillis held the ball well.
George Donnelly fluffed a great scoring chance after an Andrew Tutte cross had found him with a yard of space in the area, he sliced his resulting shot wide of the target in the wet conditions.
The Bantams poured forward late on and substitutes Garry Thompson and Alan Connell had efforts that failed to hit the target as Rochdale held out for a point they will have been very pleased with considering they spent much of the game with 10 men.