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Club News

WE CAN ONLY CONCENTRATE ON OUR NEXT GAME

18 February 2015

Club News

WE CAN ONLY CONCENTRATE ON OUR NEXT GAME

18 February 2015

Bantams boss Phil Parkinson knows his players must focus purely on their next game and not on other results around them or their forthcoming F.A Cup Quarter Final with Reading.

Parkinson's men play away at Leyton Orient this Wednesday evening on their return to Sky Bet League 1 action following Sunday's impressive victory over Sunderland at the Coral Windows Stadium.

The Orient match is one of five games for City to negotiate before their big date with Reading in the last eight of the F.A Cup.

The trip to the Matchroom Stadium will also be City's first league game in nine days. During that period since their previous league fixture - the win over Milton Keynes Dons last Monday - some of the Bantams' Play-Off rivals have played twice.

Parkinson said: "I'm not really interested in other results at this stage.

"With the F.A Cup run we're on and the games we have to play, we are going to have fixtures we can catch up in.

"We've got to concentrate on ourselves and the next match coming up. We can't look at what anyone else is doing.

"We are doing well at the moment and we want to build on that.

"I sense a real determination among the lads to kick on from Sunday and bring that same level of intensity into our performance on Wednesday."

Jon Stead needed stitches at half time on Sunday after taking a nasty kick to his boot during the first half of the Sunderland tie. With the wound still not fully healed, Stead is currently rated as a major doubt for the Orient match.

Stead's likely absence from City's line up on Wednesday might not be the only change made by Parkinson as the Bantams boss tries to manage his squad through a busy period of games.

Andy Halliday could come back into the side, while the likes of Gary MacKenzie, Francois Zoko and Mark Yeates might also be in contention.

Parkinson added: "We've got a few knocks to contend with in the squad and Jon Stead needed stitches on Sunday. He's a big doubt at the moment.

"We have players waiting in the wings to come in though if necessary.

"You can't fault the way Billy Clarke has come back into the side and taken his chance. Now might be the time for others to get the opportunity to do the same.

"Andy Halliday was unfortunate to be left out on Sunday and Gary MacKenzie is chomping at the bit to play. We've also got (Mark) Yeatesy who is eager to get back into the side and others as well.

"There's decent competition there at the moment."

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