Taylor's Bantams hoping for chance to become screen stars in Carling Cup

JULIAN RHODES is hoping for a cash windfall after Bradford City were handed an attractive Carling Cup first round tie at home to Nottingham Forest.

The Bantams being paired with the former European Cup winners was the standout tie for White Rose football in yesterday's draw.

With Hull City not entering until the second round stage, Leeds United were drawn at home to Lincoln City while Sheffield United must travel to Hartlepool United.

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Middlesbrough will travel to Chesterfield in a repeat of the 1997 FA Cup semi-final that the Riverside club won after a replay but it is the tie at Valley Parade that has left Rhodes hopeful of Bradford being selected as one of the two ties broadcast by Sky Television during the week commencing August 9.

City's joint chairman said: "It is a good draw for us and, hopefully, one that Sky will feel is attractive enough to be shown live.

"Leeds United would probably have been the best draw for us but this is not too far behind and I am sure there will be a healthy crowd at the game.

"Forest are a good team, as they showed last season (by finishing third in the Championship). They beat us 3-0, too, at this stage at The City Ground but, hopefully, home advantage will pay off this time.

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"Peter (Taylor) is pleased with his recruitment so far this summer. Another couple of additions are expected before the start of the season and we are already excited about our prospects."

Elsewhere in Yorkshire, Sheffield Wednesday were handed a home tie against League Two Bury while another basement outfit, Accrington Stanley, will travel to Doncaster Rovers.

Barnsley will be at home against Rochdale but Huddersfield Town must travel to Carlisle United.

Leeds and Lincoln will meet in competitive action at Elland Road for the first time in almost 50 years, the Imps having the distinction of being the first team to be beaten during Don Revie's managerial reign when the Yorkshire side triumphed 7-0 in April, 1961.

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Chris Sutton's side finished fifth bottom in the Football League last season with the scoring exploits of on-loan Leeds striker Davide Somma playing a major part in keeping the club clear of relegation trouble.

The pick of the other ties is Portsmouth's trip to promoted Stevenage Borough.

Pompey, in administration following relegation from the Premier League and without a manager after Avram Grant's switch to West Ham, face a trip to Broadhall Way as Conference champions Borough make their debut in the League Cup.

The other club promoted to the League, Oxford United, were handed a home tie against Bristol Rovers, while Southampton will host south coast rivals Bournemouth.

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Burnley, like fellow relegated side Hull, will not play in the first round due to having been given a bye to the next stage.

Sky are expected to announce the ties to be shown live later this month. Last season, the first round tie between Darlington and Leeds was shown on the Monday with Bury v West Brom being broadcast 24 hours later.

See tomorrow's Yorkshire Post for details of all our clubs' 2010-11 Football League fixtures.

FIRST ROUND ENCOUNTERS

Carling Cup draw:

Hartlepool v Sheff United

Leicester v Macclesfield

Walsall v Tranmere

Carlisle v Huddersfield

Stockport v Preston

Barnsley v Rochdale

Morecambe v Coventry

Doncaster v Accrington

Chesterf'ld v Middlesbrough

Peterborough v Rotherham

Bradford C v Nottm Forest

Leeds Utd v Lincoln

Sheff Wednesday v Bury

Scunthorpe v Oldham

Crewe v Derby

Exeter v Ipswich

Southend v Bristol City

Southampt'n v Bournemouth

Brentford v Cheltenham

QPR v Port Vale

Torquay v Reading

Norwich v Gillingham

Stevenage v Portsmouth

Shrewsbury v Charlton

Cardiff v Burton

Northampton v Brighton

Swansea v Barnet

Plymouth v Notts County

Wycombe v Millwall

Oxford v Bristol Rovers

MK Dons v Dagenham

Hereford v Colchester

Yeovil v Crystal Palace

Aldershot v Watford

Swindon v Leyton Orient

Matches to be played week commencing August 9.