Paul Cook admitted a lively half-time team talk was the inspiration for Stanley to continue their solid start to the campaign.

Bradford, with 1,500 fans behind them at a packed Crown Ground, had hit the post and had one cleared off the line in the first half as the Reds never really got going.

But Cook suggested there was a bit of the hairdryer treatment dished out at the interval for his lacklustre side.

That provided the impetus for an improved second-half showing and that contributed to Padraig Amond celebrating his third goal of the season before Reds bogey man Alan Connell – who seems to have a habit of scoring against Stanley in a career that has spanned Bournemouth, Torquay, Grimsby and Swindon among others – got a leveller seven minutes from time.

It did hurt the Reds as it was so late but they could have few complaints, as a point apiece was probably the right result.

“It was a bit lively in the dressing room at half-time to say the least,” said Cook who is always calm with the media after games, no matter what.

“But the lads took it on board and we were a lot better in the second half, we were a lot more effective and got higher up the pitch.

“Bradford showed us the utmost respect by changing the way they play to stop us playing and our lads struggled to identify that in the first half.

“We tried to pass through them but they had strong bodies in the middle of the pitch.

“We had no choice but to go long to try to earn the right to play and try to create space, and I thought we did that really well in the second half.

“We got a deserved goal, we got in the ascendency and on another day we’d have probably seen the game out.

“Fair play to Bradford, they’re a good side, a very strong, powerful side with good players.

“But at the end of the day although we’re disappointed because we took the lead, if we’d have equalised late on it would have felt like a win, so putting it into perspective we’re all right.

“You might say a draw was a fair result.”

The Bantams have spent numerous seasons battling at the wrong end of the League Two table and this season the pressure is on manager Phil Parkinson to make sure they are up challenging at the right end of the table.

They were unlucky in the first half as they threw everything at the Reds with keeper Ian Dunbavin denying Zavon Hines. Former Burnley player Hines then hit the post after getting beyond the Stanley defence and Luke Joyce cleared a looping James Hanson header off the line.

Parkinson admitted he was disappointed his side weren’t in the lead at the break but Cook’s half-time ‘chat’ certainly worked in the Reds’ favour as they were more prominent after the break.

Rommy Boco came more into the game, winning his headers as keeper Dunbavin tried to avoid Bradford’s towering centre halves with his goalkicks and go for the smaller wing backs.

However, it was good build-up play from the back which resulted in the opener, with Joyce playing a good pass to Will Hatfield on the right and his cross was turned home by Amond in front of the Reds fans in the 73rd minute.

Stanley have pulled off what would be judged by some as shock results this season – beating Southend and Cheltenham on their home turf – and it looked like the Reds were going to do it again, even though they hadn’t been at their best.

But Parkinson is lucky to have someone of the experience of Connell, who won promotion with Swindon last season.

He came off the bench and had only been on a matter of minutes when he tested Dunbavin at the near post.

And it wasn’t long before Hanson flicked the ball on for Connell and he finished well to make it all-square.

It was then a frantic finale as the game could have gone either way with the Bradford fans urging their side on and a lot of nail-biting by both sides.

Parkinson admitted he was impressed by his side’s character after a hammering by Rotherham the previous week while Cook is looking for some of his bigger characters to come forward.

“We’re a very young side and the lads listen to every word you say and they do everything you say,” continued Cook.

“It’s hard for them to sometimes make decisions on a pitch which might be contrary to what we’ve told them – such as turning round and getting high up the pitch.

“In the first half we were making bad decisions continually. And it’s hard because we lack that voice on the pitch or that experienced leader that can dictate and change a game for you.

“We need managers on the pitch, and that’s what we’re trying to develop.

“Lads like Luke Joyce can do that, and he was absolutely magnificent on the day.

“But the lads are playing well at the minute and it’s been a great start for them.

"Ten points after five games – that’s the benchmark, 10 points after every five games,” Cook said.