FA Cup giant-killers Bradford City will hope to overcome another higher-division opponent on Saturday, welcoming Championship outfit Reading to Valley Parade.

Phil Parkinson’s side managed to book their first quarter-final place in 39 years after victories over Chelsea and Sunderland, just two seasons after stealing the headlines in their league Cup campaign.

Bradford now head into the last eight in the hope of securing their first FA Cup semi-final appearance since 1911, 104 years ago.

As the Bantam’s manager has stated he feels his side will have to play better than they have against any opponent this season, he will be well aware of the dangers posed by Reading – a club at which he enjoyed an 11-year playing spell.

Only his second meeting with the Royals as a manager, he also believes the prospect of a Wembley appearance will see the former Premier League club up the tempo throughout the 90 minutes.

"We don't fear them but we definitely respect them," he said. "Obviously we've got to take the experience of a couple of years ago and this season into the game. Looking at the lads, there's an air of confidence. We're enjoying testing ourselves against these teams, right from the Millwall game, the Leeds game in the League Cup, Chelsea [and] Sunderland.

"We're under no illusions at all that to get through this game we're going to have to play probably better than we've done at any point this season. We can't think too much of the prize of Wembley, we've just got to concentrate on the factors that are important in the 90 minutes."

And with Steve Clarke’s side having lost just one of their last seven away games, they will head into the match as hot-favourites despite the tantalising, and surprising, form of the hosts. Reading will also be hoping to make their first semi-final appearance for some time, last featuring in 1927.

However, they are expected to be without influential trio Jem Karacan, Simon Cox and Anton Ferdinand for their visit. Clarke, a former Chelsea assistant, has also been quick to comment ahead of the match, and has dismissed he would look to Jose Mourinho for tips on beating the League One side.

Bradford City handed Chelsea their FA feat in the fourth-round, despite first-half goals from Gary Cahill and Ramires. With Jon Stead pulling one goal back shortly before half-time, Filipe Morais handed his side a shock opportunity with a tap-in in the 75th minute. As Andy Halliday blasting the visitors ahead with eight minutes to spare, Andy Yates completed the shock victory in injury time.

"Chelsea got beat. I won't speak to him, no," the Scot insisted. “We'll talk [with the squad] about how to beat Bradford. The rewards are there and clear to see, you don’t have to talk about them."

Bradford City and Reading will open the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 12.45pm kick-off.

VAVEL Logo
About the author
Kane Brooker
Kane is an 18-year-old Sports Journalist who predominantly covers Manchester United FC while having a heavy involvement in the Boxing office. Having joined the VAVEL team back in October 2014, he has previously featured for Sky Sports News while writing regularly for The Non-League Paper. Kane is also the club reporter, programme editor and press and communications officer for Walton Casuals Football Club.