Bradford have advantage for FA Cup replay against Reading reckons Parkinson

Reading are narrowly odds-on at 4/5 with Coral to overcome Bradford City (in 90 minutes) in their second leg of the FA Cup quarter-final.

Prior to their goalless draw in the last leg, the Bantams actually held their own quite impressively against the Royals; the two previous matches in the 2003/04 season saw the West Yorkshire side take four points, and despite losing both league games the campaign before, Bradford were seven matches unbeaten against Reading until that point.

Since the first leg, the visitors have recorded two draws, while Reading have won and lost, most recently a 4-1 hammering against Watford. John Stead’s goal in the 1-1 result at Notts County could be deemed good timing. As a result is 3/1 to dispatch on any occasion against Steve Clarke’s outfit, and the veteran striker has five competition goals to his name already.

Bantams boss Phil Parkinson reckons recent results though, give his team an advantage going into the tie: “I think Reading had an advantage because they are not going to go up or down whereas we’ve got to make sure we’re still fighting on two fronts.

“Reading were able to make more changes but they got thumped which won’t help them. When we’ve made changes we’ve got results and that will give everybody a lift because the lads who came in are walking around with a spring in their step,” continued Parkinson.

“I think we got it right. I was pleased with the balance of the team (at Notts County) and I thought all the lads who came in actually added something in terms of freshness.”

For the hosts, if Pavel Pogrebnyak plays to his potential, then they have a great chance. The Russian hitman is 19/10 in the anytime market.

Top scorer Simon Cox is also 19/10 in the same market, and if he links up well with his strike partner, can work opportunities. It was Yakubu who was the hero in the victory over Derby in the last round, and odds of 21/10 in the anytime market is very good value.