ADE Akinbiyi bagged his second goal in three games as the Clarets were made to work hard in West Yorkshire last night.

The powerhouse striker added to his penalty strike at Wrexham last week with a neat first-half strike at Valley Parade But Bradford fought back with an equaliser from Kyle Nix and proved tougher opponents than League Two rivals Wrexham, who were despatched 5-2 by Steve Cotterill's men.

Akinbiyi led the line alongside former Bantam Andy Gray, who was reserved a warm reception from both sets of supporters, with Robbie Blake and Kyle Lafferty nursing injuries.

City made a bright start, with Mark Bower powering a header over in the first minute.

Cotterill's men were left breathing a sigh of relief on the 20-minute mark when striker Kyle Nix struck the post.

Nix opened his body to arc his shot into the bottom corner, but Clarets stopper Brian Jensen managed a crucial fingertip save as the ball flicked the upright.

The Clarets cleared the resulting corner, and within two minutes, were celebrating the opening goal of the game with Akinbiyi on target.

Michael Duff's floated delivery into City's penalty box looked to be heading into the hands of Bantams number one Donovan Ricketts.

But Akinbiyi showed terrific instinct to nip ahead of Ricketts and steer the ball home from eight yards out.

Burnley would have hoped to build on Akinbiyi's opportunist finish, but the Bantams were tough to break down and caused problems of their own.

Omar Daley sprinted more than 40 yards before powering wide, while the ex-Preston striker later teed up Conlon, whose scuffed shot proved comfortable for Jensen.

At the other end, John Spicer, enjoying a good game in the heart of midfield, teased past two defenders to present Gray with an opportunity.

But on this occasion, the Yorkshire-born hitman could not provide the killer touch.

Just before the break, the Bantams snatched their leveller.

Joe Colbeck dragged the ball back to find the onrushing Nix, whose first-time effort into the bottom corner gave Jensen no chance.

Burnley reacted in positive fashion, Alan Mahon unleashing a 25-yard howitzer at Ricketts and Gray heading over Akinbiyi's centre.

Chances were limited after the break but when they arrived, it was in the Bantams box.

Akinbiyi unselfishly squared for Gray when the powerhouse needed to put his foot through the ball, while Wade Elliott miscued from Steve Jones' low pass.

Gabor Kiraly, on for Jensen in the second-half, was rarely troubled.

But the Hungarian was called on to produce an outstanding one-handed save, to deny Nix from 30 yards.

Match Stats: Bradford: Ricketts (Saynor 80), Williams, Heckingbottom (O'Brien 79), Evans (Bentham 52), Wetherall, Bower, Colbeck (Naughton 46), Johnson (Penford 79), Conlon (Medley 64), Nix, Daley (Phelan 79).

Subs not used: Harben, Osborne Clarets: Jensen (Kiraly 46), Thomas, Harley, Duff (Foster 62), Caldwell, Jordan (Elliott 53), Mahon (Jones 53), Spicer (Gudjonsson 53), McCann (O'Connor 53), Akinbiyi (Rodriguez 85), Gray (Berisha 66).

Attendance: 2,705