Wigan Athletic v Bradford City: Belief of the Irish can help City to shock Cup triumph

RORY McArdle believes Bradford City can tonight take heart from how Northern Ireland upset the odds earlier this month to claim a heroic draw against Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal.

The Bantams make the trip across the Pennines to Wigan Athletic looking to book a place in the quarter-finals of the League Cup for the first time in almost a quarter of a century.

As the only League Two club still in the competition, Bradford will be up against it when taking on the Premier League Latics.

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Northern Ireland international McArdle, however, insists City should travel in hopeful mood after being part of the squad that held Portugal to that 1-1 draw in the recent World Cup qualifier in Porto.

The Bradford defender told the Yorkshire Post: “You never know what will happen in a one-off game. Just look at what we did against Portugal a few weeks ago. That was a great night. We played so well and, to be fair, the lads were disappointed not to win.

“That shows how well we defended. Portugal were always going to have most of the ball but we had a game-plan and the formation worked. We also had a huge belief and a 1-1 draw showed what can be achieved if everyone is together.”

Helder Postiga broke Irish hearts three weeks ago tonight by cancelling out Niall McGinn’s first-half opener with just 10 minutes remaining and McArdle insists City can approach tonight’s fourth round tie in hopeful mood.

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The 25-year-old, who reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals with Aberdeen in 2010-11, added: “We have done well in the Cup this season. Everyone knows Wigan have been a Premier League team for a lot of years. So, we know it will be a tough game as they have a lot of good players.

“But we will go there with a game-plan to try and frustrate them. We need to keep the ball away from Wigan and then hope to force a few set-pieces.

“I was fortunate enough to get to the semi-finals with Aberdeen and it was the momentum that carried us through, even when trailing against St Mirren in stoppage time when I got the equaliser. It showed what can happen when you go to the death.”

City’s hopes of pulling off another Cup upset this season will be hampered by the absence of Luke Oliver with a grave-looking Achilles injury. Andrew Davies, who was substituted at half-time in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Burton Albion, and Gary Jones (virus) are also out along with Ricky Ravenhill, who is suspended following his red card at the Pirelli Stadium.

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Parkinson remains incensed by the antics of Lee Bell, who fell dramatically to the floor following an innocuous collision with Ravenhill.

Referee Andy D’Urso interpreted the clash as a head-butt and sent off Ravenhill but Bell has since taken to Twitter to admit: “(I) went down like a girl very poor from me! But its been a long time coming!! #whatgoesaroundcomesaround.”

The Bantams manager said: “I am still livid about the red card. The lad (Bell) has even come out publicly and said how he’d made a meal of it. And ‘what goes around, comes around’. I don’t like that sort of thing, it is not acceptable.

“If this was a Premier League player, it would be all over Sky TV and there would be an outcry that a player has come out with that.

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“I sensed with their manager that there was a sense of embarrassment about what had happened. The referee should have managed that situation better.

“We have sent the footage down to the FA to put an appeal in to ask for the three-game ban to be reduced. There was minimal contact, but it wasn’t initiated by Rick. We have been advised by an experienced referee and the LMA to push for a reduced punishment.

“It wasn’t a violent head-butt, which is what the three-game ban is all about. If their lad doesn’t fall on the floor, Rick doesn’t get sent off.”

City expect to learn the result of their appeal later today but Parkinson’s priority is putting together a team he feels can do the 5,000 fans making the trip to the DW Stadium proud.

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He added: “We want to make it as an uncomfortable night as possible for Wigan. Shocks do happen. I remember going to Chelsea as Colchester United manager when we were in League One.

“We went 1-0 up and then hit the post as well before going on to lose 3-1. Who knows what might have happened if that had gone in?

“Like this time when we will have 5,000 fans at Wigan, Colchester had 6,000 at Stamford Bridge and it was a tremendous occasion. The key that day was we had a real go at them.

“We were really positive in our play and stepped on to them all over the pitch. We ruffled a few feathers early in the game and that set the tone.

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“Wigan are a good side with a lot of international players. Let’s be fair, we will have to be right at our best and they need to have an off day. But it does happen.”

Last six games: Wigan Athletic LWLDLW, Bradford City LDDWWL.

Last time: Wigan Athletic 1 Bradford City 0; December 13, 2003; Division One.

Referee: R East (Wiltshire).