Bradford City have gone in at half time against Preston North End level at 0-0 as both sides will be forced to play the majority of the game with 10 men, thanks to an altercation between Neil Kilkenny and Kyle Bennett midway through the opening period.
The Yorkshire club, who started the game in 12th position in the League One table, made a positive start, but it was the visitors who went closest to opening the scoring when Adam Reach's snap shot slipped wide of the Bantams goal.
Josh Brownhill then tested keeper Jon McLaughlin from distance in the early stages as the Lilywhites settled far better than their opponents.
However, the biggest talking point of the first 45 minutes was the sending-off of City's Bennett for fighting with Kilkenny, who was also given his marching orders by referee Stuart Attwell.
The red cards didn't seem to distract Preston too much as they continued to push for a goal and almost found one when Paul Gallacher hit the Bantams' woodwork, but the Lancashire club were unable to make their first-half pressure pay.
Chris O'Keefe
