Newport County were held to a 0-0 draw at home against promotion-chasing Bradford City, who played for more than 80 minutes with 10 players.
Defender Jack Shephard was shown a straight red by referee Andrew Humphries with a last man challenge.
The game’s best chance fell in the favour of County five minutes from half-time, Matt Baker’s shot from a short corner hitting the inside of the post.
Newport started with intent, creating the first opening of the game. Bobby Kamwa’s through ball into the path of David Ajiboye set up Courtney Baker-Richardson who was thwarted by Sam Walker in the Bradford goal.
Baker-Richardson came even closer to giving County the lead, Anthony Glennon’s searching free-kick was glanced on by Baker-Richardson, rising highest only for his header to go wide of the target.
Antoni Sarcevic had the ball in the back of the net for the Bantams, combining well with Michael Mellon, but he was denied by the offside flag.
The visitors then went down to ten men, Kamwa’s pass into the feet of Baker-Richardson, saw the latter being brought down by defender Jack Shephard. Referee Andrew Humphries showed him a straight red, sending him off with less than twenty minutes into the game.
Shephard’s dismissal resulted in Graham Alexander making an early change minutes later, Bobby Pointon was replaced by defender Romoney Crichlow.
The Exiles’ best chance came five minutes from half-time, Shane McLoughlin played the ball short into the feet of Kamwa, teeing up Matt Baker, whose precise effort hit the inside of the right-hand post.
Bradford replied with an effort of their own a minute later, Tommy Leigh had a volley from distance comfortably denied by Nick Townsend.
Mellon came close seven minutes into the second-half, following a spell of pressure from the away side, Aden Baldwin’s pass found the on-loan Burnley forward, who was stopped sharply by Townsend.
Newport’s best move of the second-half started from Cameron Antwi’s long ball, which was brought down excellently by Josh Martin, his inswinging cross was guided across the face of goal but no County player could find the goal.
Mellon again had the chance to give 10-man Bradford the advantage. Off balance, Mellon dragged his shot wide of Newport’s goal, merely troubling Townsend.
Antwi then tried his luck from range, his dipping shot stopped by the hands of Sam Walker.
A mix-up at the back for Newport saw Jamie Walker pounce, forced wide, great defensive recovery from the home side prevented Bradford from taking the lead late on.
The last action of the game came courtesy of a Bantams corner, Richie Smallwood’s ball evaded everybody except Crichlow at the back post, hitting his header into the ground, which was punched over by Townsend.
This result ended Newport’s four game winning run in League Two, however the Exiles stretched their unbeaten league streak to six games, despite dropping down a place to 15th in the table.
Newport are next in action when they welcome Cheltenham Town to Rodney Parade, next Saturday. Kick-off is at 3pm.