Intersonic Stadium - Sat 27 January 2007
Bradford 0
Yeovil 2 (Davies 5, 67)
Attendance 7,474
Yeovil midfielder Arron Davies hit a stunning double to further boost their promotion bid but Bradford were furious about a late disallowed goal which could have put them back in the match.
Substitute Eddie Johnson looked to have thrown the Bantams a lifeline when he slotted home a cool finish 12 minutes from time, but despite the ball getting a flick on from Yeovil's Jean-Paul Kalala the effort was eventually ruled out for offside.
The Bantams were already two-down thanks to Davies' two clinical finishes, but hopes of a late comeback were dashed when referee Graham Salisbury disallowed Johnson's strike after lengthy discussions with his assistant.
Bradford's protests were instant and sustained, but their misery was compounded when their speedy front man Jermaine Johnson was red-carded for his comments to the referee.
The Bantams, who had drawn their last three home games, started brightly with their new Jamaican international winger Omar Daley impressing, but Davies hit them with the first of two-sucker punches after just five minutes.
The midfielder raced onto Anthony Barry's pass and held off a challenge from City skipper David Wetherall to fire home a low right foot shot from 12 yards.
Bradford responded with some good approach play, but Glovers skipper Terry Skiverton was in commanding form at the heart of their defence, and keeper Steve Mildenhall was only troubled on a couple of occasions.
The Yeovil stopper was tested more after the break and twice denied Jermaine Johnson with good saves.
As City pushed forward looking to grab an equaliser, Yeovil punished them with another sweeping counter attack and Welsh international Davies coolly driving home from an acute angle after 67 minutes.
Yeovil's on-loan hot-shot Leon Best came close to adding to his goal tally with a late shot which fizzed wide.
Despite the efforts of Jermaine Johnson and new man Daley, City struggled to create any clear-cut openings until Eddie Johnson's controversial strike.
Johnson's sending off knocked the stuffing out of City, and manager Colin Todd will be anxiously waiting to find out how long a ban his star man will get.
Griffin Park - Sat 27 January 2007
Brentford 0
Carlisle 0
Attendance 5,381
Neil Shipperley could not quite inspire Brentford to the victory they so desperately needed as he made his debut in a 0-0 draw against Carlisle.
The 32-year-old former Sheffield United, Southampton, Crystal Palace and Chelsea striker boosted the Bees' relegation battle by agreeing a contract before kick-off.
But although his side produced a much-improved performance a single point was not what manager Scott Fitzgerald required.
Shipperley, looking rather overweight after a lengthy lay-off due to injury, at least gave Fitzgerald's side added experience but neither side created a decent clear-cut chance.
Brentford dominated much of the possession in the first half but still saw Carlisle create the best opportunity to take the lead.
The Bees defence fell asleep in the 27th minute when they thought the ball was rolling out for a corner, only for Zigor Aranalde to whip over a cross to the near post.
Karl Hawley, comfortably the most effective striker on show, thought he had scored with a flashing header, but it came back off the woodwork.
A goal at that stage would have been hard on the Bees, who produced a much-improved performance and twice went close through winger Charlie Ide.
Shipperley also had a half-chance from a fine Joe Keith cross but there were few real openings for the home crowd to cheer.
The attendance had been boosted by the signing of Shipperley and by news that Brentford fan Matthew Benham had agreed an interest-free £3m loan over five years to ease the club's problems with debt.
But Carlisle improved after the break, imposing their passing style on the hosts and pressing for a winner.
They once again created the best opportunity, when substitute Joe Garner drilled his effort wide with seven minutes to go.
Bees sub Calum Willock also miss-kicked horribly after turning his man and the match ended all square.
Withdean Stadium - Sat 27 January 2007
Brighton 0
Port Vale 0
Attendance 5,177
Brighton and Port Vale fought out a poor goalless draw at the Withdean.
The home side had the consolation of a first clean sheet in the League in front of their own fans since August.
And they would have been celebrating all three points if they had more fire power up front.
Brighton were grateful for a goal-line clearance early on from Kerry Mayo.
The experienced left-back, returning to the team after suspension and injury, dropped back onto the left hand post to clear a goal bound free kick from 20 yards by Vale midfielder Paul Harsley.
It was the closest either side came to scoring in a dull first half, although Brighton missed a good chance to go in front moments before the interval.
A right-wing cross from Jake Robinson picked out a run into the penalty area by captain Dean Hammond but the nine-goal midfielder headed straight at Vale's young keeper Joe Anyon when completely unmarked.
Brighton improved after the break once Manager Dean Wilkins moved Robinson out to the left-wing and Dean Cox into a free role in the middle.
A clever back heel by Cox released Robinson for an angled drive which beat Anyon but rolled inches wide of the far post.
Vale went close to breaking the deadlock when a glancing header by Luke Rodgers on his debut following a £30,000 move from Crewe, narrowly missed the target.
It was a rare opportunity for Vale as Brighton continued to carve out chances.
Another header by Hammond from a Cox corner was parried by youngster Anyon and eventually scrambled clear.
Brighton had two further opportunities to take all three points in the closing stages.
Former Billericay striker Nathan Elder, brought on in place of Joe Gatting, had a left-foot shot from eight yards blocked by Anyon.
Cox also drove just wide from the edge of the box as Vale held on for a hard earned stalemate.