ANTHONY Wordsworth’s second half header secured Southend United an impressive 1-1 draw at high-flying Bradford City tonight.

The Shrimpers appeared to be heading for a fourth successive away defeat when Marc McNulty fired the Bantams in front nine minutes before the break.

But Blues hit back after the break with Wordsworth scoring from close range to ensure Phil Brown’s picked up a well deserved share of the spoils.

Southend, who stuck with the same starting line-up from Saturday’s narrow win against Chesterfield, matched their hosts early on and came close to opening the scoring in the 19th minute when Simon Cox’s shot flashed wide of the left post following a quickly taken free-kick from Wordsworth.

Moments later, Shrimpers full-back Jason Demetriou saw a low, long range shot smothered by Bradford goalkeeper Colin Doyle before the hosts hit back with Haris Vuckic curling a 20 yard free-kick inches wide of the left post.

The Bantams then saw a neat Mark Marshall volley ruled out for offside before Nicky Law sent a long range effort wide of the wide right post.

With Bradford remaining on top Josh Cullen – a former St Thomas More School pupil – was the next to nearly score as his effort from the edge of the penalty area went just past the right post.

But City made their mounting pressure tell in the 36th minute when Adam Thompson lost his footing, enabling McNulty to race onto Vuckic’s long ball forward before firing a clinical finish past the advancing Mark Oxley in the Shrimpers goal.

Vuckic almost immediately made it 2-0 when his deflected effort went just wide of the left post but, having survived the scare, Blues came close to equalising at the start of the second half when Nile Ranger’s well struck shot was parried away by Doyle.

However, the Shrimpers were not to be denied for long and levelled things up in the 54th minute, with Wordsworth on target for the third time in six games.

The attacking midfielder perfectly timed his charge into the penalty area and netted with a firm close range header after Ben Coker’s left wing cross had been flicked on at the near post.

The game became more stretched after Wordsworth’s effort before Blues boss Phil Brown made his first change of the night in the 68th minute with Jermaine McGlashan coming on for Stephen McLaughlin down the left hand side.

Shortly after the change, Demetriou had a long range shot kept out by Doyle who then also tipped over a 30 yard free-kick from Wordsworth .

Blues then made a second change – in the 81st minute – with David Mooney replacing Cox in attack and the visitors wasted a good chance to snatch all three points right at the death Ranger headed Wordsworth’s free-kick wide of the left post from eight yards.