Bradford duo could return to face Villa - plus five golden Bantams moments

BRADFORD winger Kyel Reid and defender Carl McHugh could return to the starting line-up for the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final against Aston Villa at Valley Parade.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Jan 2013, 15:57 BST

Reid, who returned from a two-and-a-half week lay-off due to a groin injury in mid-December, has been used sparingly by manager Phil Parkinson in recent weeks, while McHugh returned to the substitutes’ bench in Saturday’s league defeat at Barnet following a calf strain.

Winger Garry Thompson remains sidelined with knee ligament damage and both striker James Hanson and Australian defender James Meredith are doubtful. Hanson sustained a knock at Barnet, so Alan Connell is on stand-by, and Meredith is still struggling with the after-effects of the virus that ruled him out at the weekend.

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Provisional squad: Duke, Good, McArdle, Darby, Doyle, Ravenhill, R Jones, G Jones, Atkinson, Hanson, Wells, Brown, McHugh, McLaughlin, Hines, Turgott, Connell, Reid.

• As the build-up continues, we look back at five other golden moments in Bradford City’s history...

1911: A header from captain Jimmy Speirs was enough for City to win the FA Cup for the first and only time in their history with a 1-0 replay win over Newcastle, after the first match at Crystal Palace ended goalless.

1960: City stunned Matt Busby’s Manchester United with a 2-1 League Cup win at Valley Parade in the trophy’s inaugural season. Dennis Viollet put United ahead but goals from Gerald Smith and Robert Webb gave the hosts a famous win.

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1999: The Bantams went to Wolves on the last day of the season knowing a win would send them back to the top flight after a 77-year absence. They clung on for a 3-2 win which proved enough for them to reach the Premier League.

2000: Against all expectations, City survived to fight another season in the top flight after a 1-0 final-day win over Liverpool. David Wetherall headed the only goal in the 13th minute which sealed their great escape.

2012: City pulled off one of the great cup shocks to defeat a strong Arsenal line-up and move into the League Cup semi-finals. The home side went through 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the end of 120 minutes.

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Related topics:BradfordAston Villa