WREXHAM conceded a late equaliser as their League Two clash against Bradford City ended in a 1-1 draw.

Nearly 22,000 supporters were at Valley Parade to see the fourth tier fixture and the Reds took the lead in the second half through Paul Mullin's third goal of the season.

It looked like Phil Parkinson, who enjoyed a successful five-year spell in the Bradford hotseat before leaving in June 2016, would be making a victorious return to west Yorkshire but the Bantams levelled with five minutes remaining.

Despite not getting the win against resurgent Bradford who had won the previous three games since sacking former Wales boss Mark Hughes, Wrexham are now unbeaten in six matches in all competitions and up to fourth in the table, five points behind leaders Stockport County.

Parkinson made three changes from the side that started the 3-2 come-from-behind win against Salford City the previous weekend.

Ryan Barnett completed a three-game suspension so he replaced Aaron James in the right wing-back position and Jordan Tunnicliffe came in for absent centre-half Aaron Hayden.

The other change was in attack where Steven Fletcher was handed a first start since joining Wrexham in September, taking over from Ollie Palmer.

Palmer was named among the substitutes where there was also a place for club captain Ben Tozer who was rested for the previous two league matches.

The game started at a frantic pace and there was a second minute yellow card for captain Paul Mullin following a late challenge on Brad Halliday.

Bradford had the first attempt on goal following a quick break but Andy Cook's effort from Bobby Pointon's cross was comfortably saved by Reds' keeper Arthur Okonkwo.

Wrexham responded with Mullin heading wide from Barnett's cross while Fletcher felt he should have been awarded a penalty when he wriggled his way past two tackles but was then pulled back, although referee Ross Joyce wasn't convinced.

Barnett then delivered another superb delivery and Mullin was unable to steer his diving header on target.

It was end to end and pretty even with Jamie Walker's shot from outside the area easily gathered by Okonkwo while Cook nodded a cross down in the area for Walker whose drive was blocked in the area by Eoghan O'Connell as Wrexham's defence held firm.

Wrexham had the last chance of the opening period when Fletcher won the ball and laid off to Mullin before taking the return pass but the former Scotland international striker dragged his shot wide when he ran in on goal.

The Reds hadn't got going in the second half and George Evans had to make a fantastic block to thwart Walker who got in behind the visitors' defence early in the second half.

Bradford continued to put the pressure on and Walker's low effort was heading for the far corner but was brilliantly turned around the post by Okonkwo.

But Wrexham took the lead against the run of play in the 68th minute.

Barnett sent in a floated cross from the right and Mullin scored with a bullet header that goalkeeper Harry Lewis couldn't keep out.

However, Bradford levelled with five minutes to go.

Jacob Mendy failed to clear his lines, Adam Wilson saw a shot blocked but the ball fell nicely for the Bantams substitute and his second effort went in off the bar.

Wrexham had a let-off in added time when a free-kick was launched into the area and nodded back across goal with the ball deflecting off O'Connell all falling just wide, but it finished all-square.

Bradford City (4-2-3-1): Lewis; Halliday, Taylor, Stubbs, Ridehalgh; Gilliead, Smallwood; Pointon (Wilson 77), Walker (Smith 84), Osadebe (Tulloch 84); Cook. Subs not used: Doyle, Oduor, Kelly, Oyegoke.

Wrexham (5-3-2): Okonkwo; Barnett (Mendy 82), Tunnicliffe, O'Connell, O'Connor, McClean; Jones, Evans, Lee (Davies 89); Fletcher (Palmer 67), Mullin. Subs: Howard, Tozer, Boyle, Dalby.

Attendance: 21,552 (2,624 from Wrexham).