Parkinson calls for patience allied to passion

The League Two promotion chasers have sold 23,500 tickets ahead of tonight’s Capital One Cup quarter-final tie, which is also being shown live around the world on television.

Such has been the clamour for tickets that the Yorkshire club are preparing for their largest attendance since February, 1960, when 26,244 fans flocked to see soon-to-be crowned League champions Burnley take on Third Division Bradford in FA Cup action.

Parkinson insists the backing of such a big crowd will inspire his players, though he has also been at pains to stress that the urgings of the fans must not knock the Bantams off course as they look to claim a second Premier League scalp in as many rounds after knocking out Wigan Athletic seven weeks ago.

He said: “This game is a reward for everyone at the cub who has worked hard to get to this stage. We had been waiting for the glamour draw to come out and it finally did.

“Arsenal are a great club and while predicting who will be in their team is difficult, what we definitely know is that they are a good football team with very 
attack minded full-backs.

“We have to make sure we are very disciplined. We spoke to the lads in training and said we have to pass the ball like we did on Saturday (against Torquay).

“We can’t be in a scenario where we go forward too early and give the ball away, as that would mean us having to chase it again.

“We will be up against a really good side who have scored seven and six in the last two rounds of this competition, let’s not forget that.

“If we go chasing all over the pitch, Arsenal will pick us off. We have to play with the shape we have played all season.

“We want to use the crowd to, hopefully, take us to another level. But, equally, we have to keep cool heads and stick to our game plan.

“We can’t get caught up in the atmosphere, as that could play into Arsenal’s hands. It will be a new experience for the players. But for me, it is going to be great to see the ground full.”

A full Valley Parade will be in stark contrast to the small crowds that have watched City’s League Cup run with the four ties having been watched by a total of just 24,975 fans.

The size of the task facing City, by some distance the lowest ranked side still in the competition, is equally clear with 65 places separating the two clubs in the football pyramid ahead of tonight’s tie.

Parkinson, whose previous job before taking charge of Bradford was to scout for the Gunners, added: “I’ve done okay in the cups as a player and manager, but if we could pull this off then it would eclipse all those.

“I remember beating Leeds with Reading in the League Cup one year, but we were only in the Championship to their Premier League. It was still a great occasion.

“At Colchester, I also had some big wins – we won at Sheffield United one year, when they were (going for promotion to the) Premier League. But this would beat all those.”

Considering the gulf in class and stature between the two clubs, all the pressure tonight is definitely on Arsene Wenger with Arsenal having not won a trophy since 2005.

Supporter discontent has been growing in recent weeks with a protest march having been held and calls made for Wenger to step down at the end of the season.

Parkinson, though, believes Wenger deserves praise and not criticism for the job he is doing at the Emirates Stadium.

The Bradford manager said: “I think they have qualified for the Champions League in each of the last 13 years.

“The biggest prize in English football is obviously the title. The second is qualifying for the Champions League and they have managed to do that.

“If you look at the resources they have had compared to the Manchester clubs, it is a great achievement. All supporters want trophies but that achievement can’t be taken too lightly. It is ridiculous people are talking about Arsene’s future.”

As for Bradford, Parkinson admits his players are eagerly awaiting news of the starting line-up to face the Gunners.

City’s chief said: “Me and Steve (Parkin, assistant manager) have to take the sentiment out of it and play the best team we can, while also making sure we don’t play anyone too soon in terms of injuries.

“In terms of Arsenal, we have looked at the team who faced Olympiakos recently (in the Champions League after the Gunners had qualified). Plus the Coventry and Reading (Capital One Cup) games this season.

“They are the three games we have used to try to find a thread running through their team selection. The one thing that won’t change under Arsene is their style of play so we will have to be ready.”