Reaction: Bradford City 2 Gillingham 2 – manager Neil Harris reacts to their League 2 draw at Valley Parade

Gillingham boss Neil Harris felt their magnificent first half performance should have been enough to finish Bradford off.

The Gills only managed a single goal during one of their best 45 minutes of football this season and that opened the door for a Bradford fightback after the break. The home side netted twice to lead but Oli Hawkins rescued a point for Harris’ men in the 97th minute as an enthralling contest ended two apiece.

Report: Bradford 2 Gillingham 2

“First half was magnificent, excellent,” said Harris. “We should have been three or four up at half-time, we pressed the ball, our shape, the way we contained them, the way we dealt with (their leading goalscorer) Andy Cook, turnover of possession, using the ball so well in good areas and creating chance after chance.

“Ultimately we should have been well clear at half-time, the game should have been dead and buried.

“What we knew was that Bradford would react at half-time, a team that is trying to get promoted, always going to respond and put you under pressure.”

Timotheee Dieng scored Gills’ opener and had at least one other good chance to find the net. Numerous other opportunities came and went during that first half.

Mark Hughes’ men hit back after the break with Cook heading in an equaliser and then scoring from the penalty spot. The Gills weren’t finished, however. Tom Nichols had a number of chances before substitute Hawkins converted from a Cheye Alexander corner with seconds remaining.

“We could have stood up a little bit stronger mentally than we did,” the manager said, after watching their lead disappear. “I thought we brought a bit of that on ourselves. That is certainly an area that has to improve for next season.

“When we went behind we had the desire