Shrewsbury 1 Bradford 1 - Report and pictures

Substitute Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro's 84th-minute header gave Micky Mellon's side a share of the spoils in a game.

They were on the back foot for long spells and finally trailed to Jamie Proctor's hugely-deserved 71st-minute opener.

Jayson Leutwiler was an undisputed man of the match for Salop, after making a string of saves on his recall.

It came on a day when Town conceded 17 corners and it took 53 minutes for the hosts to have an effort on goal and 78 minutes for a shot.

Akpa Akpro's goal was the first the Bantams had conceded in 453 minutes of football, while the draw ended a run of two defeats for Town, who will be relieved to see Blackpool lose 3-0.

Town made three changes from the side beaten 3-1 at Millwall last week.

Leutwiler, Zak Whitbread and Akpa Akpro replaced Mark Halstead, Mickey Demetriou and Kyle Vassell.

Halstead, who was named away player of the month by the supporters club before the game, was suspended after becoming the third Town player in as many games to be sent off.

Shrewsbury Town (3-4-2-1, 4-3-3, 4-4-2 HT): Leutwiler; Smith, Hendry (Wallace HT), Whitbread; Grimmer, Ogogo, Black (Whalley HT), Sadler; Cole (Mangan 39), Kaikai; Akpa Akpro.

Subs not used: Wellens, Wesolowski, Clark, Burton (gk).

Bradford (4-4-2): Williams; Darby, N Clarke, Burke, Meredith; McMahon, Cullen, Evans, Reid (Morais 82); W Clarke (Davies 64), Proctor (Hanson 78).

Subs not used: Knott, Morris, McArdle, Cracknell (gk).

Whitbread was returning from a one-match ban following his red card against Wigan and Demetriou is out for the season after damaging his lateral meniscus.

There was no place in the 18 for striker Kyle Vassell, who had played 12 League games without scoring and the last eight in a row.

Akpa Akpro was making his first start in nine games and was the lone forward in a 3-4-2-1 formation supported by 11-goal top scorer Sullay Kaikai and Larnell Cole.

On-loan Wigan centre back Jack Hendry was making his home debut in only his second league appearance.

James Wallace returned to the 18 for the first time since injuring his knee against Southend on February 1 and Abu Ogogo continued as captain with Nathaniel Knight-Percival completing his three-match ban.

Bradford, who were seeking a fifth consecutive clean sheet with the division's best defensive record, dominated the first half.

But they had little to show for it as the teams went in goalless at the break.

Leutwiler was soon in action, palming behind a curling free kick from on-loan Wolves midfielder Lee Evans 30 yards out after it was left by Sadler.

Bradford had the ball in the net in the ninth minute when Billy Clarke prodded home, but the flag went up immediately for offside after Town failed to clear Kyel Reid's low cross.

Tony McMahon's deep free kick was headed across goal by Jamie Proctor but Leutwiler caught under pressure from the in-rushing Nathan Clarke.

Leutwiler's first serious save - and only one of the first half - came in the 22nd minute.

It was a vital one, as the Swiss shot-stopper blocked Billy Clarke's first-time left-foot shot with his legs from McMahon's rolled free kick.

Leutwiler was in action again, two minutes later, to fist away McMahon's inswinging corner, then Josh Cullen's shot was blocked.

Nothing had been seen of the Town attack and indeed their first foray into Bradford's area didn't arrive until the 31st minute.

It was a deep ball aimed at Akpa Akpro from Dominic Smith, but goalkeeper Ben Williams came out to catch cleanly.

The first sign of a Town passing move came on 32 and saw Kaikai and Cole swap passes then Kaikai tried to put Akpa Akpro away but there was too much on it and it rolled harmlessly to Williams.

Bradford swarmed forward again on 34 when left winger Reid skipped past Smith and Black in a run infield but his shot was blocked by Hendry.

Seconds later, McMahon tried to force Leutwiler over the line after the keeper caught a cross but failed.

Town were their own worst enemies and just couldn't keep the ball after Black, Smith then Ogogo all gave it straight back to Bradford.

It became things weren't working for Town and Mellon has decided to change things in the 39th minute, with Andy Mangan on for Larnell Cole, who hadn't got into the game.

Town switched to 4-3-3 with Grimmer, Ogogo and Black in midfield and Akpa Akpro, Mangan and Kaikai up front.

There were more changes at the break - and another switch of formation - as Mellon introduced Shaun Whalley and James Wallace for Black and Hendry and matched Bradford's 4-4-2.

Smith became the first player to be booked on 50 following a push as Bradford's onslaught soon continued.

Reece Burke's header hit a Town player and it diverts behind for another corner.

Bradford fans howled for a penalty on 52 as Proctor fell to the ground after wrestling with Ogogo but the ref waved play on.

Town had their first effort on goal on 53 when Mangan sent a looping header comfortably over from Whalley's hooked cross.

Bradford quickly responded and Proctor threaded through Billy Clarke but Leutwiler blocked his shot with his legs for another yet corner.

Leutwiler was in action again on 57 when he beat away McMahon's rising angled drive for yet another corner from Proctor's pass into his path.

Leutwiler hadn't finished, blocking Reid's shot at the foot of his near post for Bradford's 13th corner.

The Bantams made their first change in the 64th minute as Steven Davies replaced Billy Clarke up front.

Town suddenly threatened with their first shot of the game.

A cracker it was too as Whalley let fly with a fierce low drive that flashed inches wide of the far post from 25 yards.

Town looked to force the ball over the line on 69 through Mangan and Akpa Akpro, after Kaikai headed Whalley's hanging cross back into the danger area but the referee blew for a foul.

Back came Bradford and Leutwiler produced a fantastic, full stretch save to palm away Proctor's header from Reid's cross.

The goal Bradford had been threatening finally came with 19 minutes left. Proctor sent a free header back from where it came from from McMahon's cross.

Bradford brought on the cavalry in the 78th minute with the arrival of big target man Jamie Hanson for Proctor.

Town had a rare foray forward on 82 but Whalley's cross at the second attempt was too high for Kaikai at the far post.

Seconds later Filipe Morais came on for Reid, but it was Town who threatened next with an unlikely equaliser.

It will be one that Williams will have nightmares about after inexplicably coming charging off his line to come for Mat Sadler's free kick, only for Akpa Akpro to beat him to the ball and head into an empty net.

It was the first goal Bradford had conceded in 453 minutes of football.

The visitors tried to hit back and on 89, sub Steven Davies headed inches over from Morais's hanging cross.

There were four minutes of time added on and Leutwiler smothered McMahon's fierce low drive at the foot of the post after his corner went back to the former Middlesbrough man.

But Shrewsbury hung on for a precious point.