ELEVEN days before an away fixture at the reigning Carabao Cup and FA Cup holders, Bradford City will visit a club in the seventh tier of English football next month.

It's a reminder of the beautiful game's rich tapestry and while the Bantams will be massive underdogs when they head to Manchester City in a League Cup quarter-final tie on December 15, the reverse will apply at Southern League Premier Division South outfit Wimborne Town.

Bradford journey to Thomas Hardy country to face Wimborne Town in a second-round FA Cup fixture on Friday, December 4, with the game at the Dorset-based hosts to be televised.

For the second round running, Michael Duff is keen on keeping out of the limelight against a Wimborne outfit who shocked League Two club Crawley in only their second-ever appearance in the first round - versus a side three tiers and 57 places higher in the league pyramid.

Bradford City manager Michael Duff. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

placeholder image — Bradford City manager Michael Duff. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

On the draw, the Bantams chief said: "It will be the same messaging that goes out as the Marine game, ‘don't be the headline’.

"We beat Marine 7-0, a really professional job and people sometimes do it down when it's ‘only them’.

"But you look at the amount of banana skins that have happened last weekend. We've gone unnoticed, no one's talking about us and it will be (hopefully) exactly the same.

"Obviously, it's away from home this time and they've already beaten a Football League team. It's a nice part of the world, I know that. But I'm not sure if we'll be going there for a holiday.

Duff, flanked by Bradford City head of football David Sharpe (left) and chief executive officer Ryan Sparks (right) at his press unveiling. Picture courtesy of BCAFC.

"The shoe's on the other foot when we go to Man City. So just give your best version of yourselves. And since I've been here, they've generally done that. Probably one half of football against Huddersfield is the only time it hasn't."

City are pausing for breath before a hectic schedule until the turn of the year.

The January window will then come into focus, with Duff revealing that discussions are already under way on that front.

On recruitment plans, he added: "I did that last week, I had a four-and-a-half hour meeting with David (Sharpe), Genty (Stephen Gent) and Declan (Evans). So that's already ongoing.”