|
"We have no fears at all. We've played extremely well in all four games and we go up there with the intention of getting another win. The players are in very good spirits and why shouldn't they be with the way we have been playing. I thought that the passing was great at Crewe on Saturday and the manner in which we scored the goals was superb.
"We are continuing to create a lot of chances and getting plenty of people in the box, which is something that has been lacking before. it is not as though we are up against a team from a level below who will see us as a major scalp. We are playing a team from our division that have done extremely well.
"There has been a lot of talk about Michael Bridges and Karl Hawley scoring goals but they have also signed Kevin Gall from Yeovil so there are good options in attack. But we'll enjoy the challenge and go there knowing that we have been playing well enough to give anyone a game."
United go into the game with boss Neil McDonald planning to make a few changes to the line-up that has started the first four games of the season for the Cumbrians. Definitely out will be Kevin Gray who misses the match after suffering breathing difficulties in the 3-1 win victory over Leyton Orient, with Danny Livesey expected to start in Gray's vacant centre-half spot at the expense of Simon Grand. It remains to be seen who else will be rested and who will come in but Simon Hackney, Neale McDermott, Paul Arnison and Derek Holmes all look likely to play a part in the starting eleven.
The Bantams take to the field on the back of an excellent 3-0 win away to Crewe Alexandra three days ago, Manchester United-loanee Eddie Johnson striker bagging a brace in the victory. City have won three games in a row, scoring nine goals in the process, since losing 1-0 at Nottingham Forest on the opening day of the season and sit third in the League Two table behind 100%ers Forest and Port Vale. Veteran frontman Dean Windass will partner Johnson from the start for the first time tonight as David Graham, on-loan from Sheffield Wednesday, has not been given permission by the Owls to play in the game and face being cup-tied at his parent club. Loanees Ben Parker (Leeds) and Lee Holmes and Nathan Doyle (Derby) have all been given the nod to play though and are available for selection to ex-Bolton manager Todd.
United have a very poor recent record in the Carling Cup having been knocked out of the competition at the opening stage in the last seasons, a 2-1 defeat at Burnley courtesy of a late Ade Akinbiyi goal the end result of the campaign last year. The Blues and the Bantams have locked horns only a few times in the previous 42 years, only eight games played between the two producing three wins for Bradford, two for Carlisle and three draws. The two sides last met in the League Cup in the 1974-75 season, when the Cumbrians were in the old first division, Les O'Neill scoring the first-half winner that night in front of a crowd 6,969 at Valley Parade.
For a complete history of matches played between the teams click here