Jorge Cadete made an instant impact at Valley Parade as Bradford came from behind to earn a vital point against in-form Aston Villa.

The Portuguese striker, a 75th minute substitute for Gareth Whalley, saw his 83rd minute header pushed onto the crossbar as Bradford pushed for a winner.

Paul Merson fired Villa into a 38th minute lead with a delightful drive from the edge of the box, but Bradford hit back within a minute of Cadete's introduction when Dean Windass was left unmarked to head home Peter Beagrie's corner.

Bradford, unbeaten at home in the Premiership since a 4-0 reverse against Sunderland on October 2, were aiming for a repeat of their 2-1 victory over Arsenal in their last home match.

But the Bantams had their work cut out against an in-form Villa side and Italian striker Benito Carbone fired an early warning as he headed Steve Stone's fourth minute cross over the bar.

Carbone and former England international Paul Merson were at the centre of everything creative in a tight opening period.

They linked brilliantly in the eighth minute as Carbone's delicate throughball put Merson in behind the Bradford defence, but he chipped inches wide.

Bradford had their fair share of possession without ever threatening Peter Enckelman, a stand-in for the injured David James, and it was again Villa who surged forward in the 16th minute.

An excellent flowing move saw Stone send the ball right to Mark Delaney who crossed for Carbone to half-volley over from the edge of the box.

Bradford's best chance of the half came 10 minutes before the interval as Beagrie's low cross found its way to Windass, five yards out, but he missed his kick and Villa cleared.

Villa finally fashioned the opening they deserved in the 38th minute and unsurprisingly it was Merson and Carbone who cut through the Bradford defence.

Merson played a one-two with the Italian from a corner, skipped past Stuart McCall and sent a delightful drive through a crowded penalty area into the top corner from just inside the corner of the box.

Bradford emerged for the second half with a renewed determination and Windass tried to catch out Enckelman with a 49th minute free-kick, but shot well wide.

Dean Saunders made a vociferous claim for a penalty in the 54th minute as the Welshman was knocked off the ball by international colleague Delaney but the referee waved play on.

Villa were seemingly in control and rarely looked troubled, although Whalley came close when he was left unmarked to force Enckelman into a full length save.

Bradford maintained their dogged approach and tried to knock Villa out of their stride, but the midlanders were always threatening on the break. Stone should have sealed the win in the 65th minute, but he volleyed well over when well-placed.

Paul Jewell made the substitution everyone had been waiting for in the 75th minute, bringing on the on-loan Benfica striker Cadete for Whalley.

And Bradford were level within a minute. Enckelman did brilliantly to turn away David Wetherall's header to safety, but from the resulting corner Windass was left unmarked to head home from five yards.

Suddenly Bradford looked the more likely victors as they poured forward looking for the winning goal. Seven minutes from time they came within inches of snatching all three points as Enckelman tipped Cadete's goal-bound header onto the crossbar.

The Portuguese forward rose well to meet Beagrie's corner but was dismayed as Enckelman earned Villa a draw.

Teams:

Bradford: Davison, Halle, Wetherall, O'Brien, Jacobs, Lawrence (Blake 68), McCall, Whalley (Cadete 75), Beagrie,Windass, Saunders.

Subs Not Used: Southall, Sharpe, Dreyer.

Goals: Windass 76.

Aston Villa: Enckelman, Southgate, Ehiogu, Barry, Delaney, Boateng, Merson (Hendrie 77), Stone (Taylor 66), Wright,Joachim, Carbone.

Subs Not Used: Watson, Cutler, Walker.

Booked: Boateng.

Goals: Merson 38.

Att: 18,276

Ref: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).