Carlisle move back into top three with hard-fought draw at Bradford

Carlisle moved back into the League Two automatic promotion places after picking up a point in a goalless draw at Bradford.

It was a second straight 0-0 draw for the Cumbrians against a top-seven rival following their weekend stalemate with Stevenage.

But it maintained their five-point advantage over Mark Hughes’ Bradford while moving them above Northampton into third place.

It was a committed and frenetic contest, with plenty of effort from both sides but few chances.

Carlisle edged the first half, with Jack Armer’s cross-shot bending the wrong side of a post. Ryan Edmondson also had a header held by Harry Lewis.

League Two top-scorer Andy Cook, who began his career at Carlisle, came close to breaking the deadlock in the second half for Bradford with a shot that deflected off the bar.

City controlled the second period, but the visitors almost pinched victory with the final kick of the game as substitute Jordan Gibson, a former Bradford player, struck the inside of a post with Lewis beaten.