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Interviews

McCALL | WE'RE TAKING NOTHING FOR GRANTED

2 November 2017

Interviews

McCALL | WE'RE TAKING NOTHING FOR GRANTED

2 November 2017

Bantams boss Stuart McCall says City will be going all out for victory on Saturday in their Emirates FA Cup first round tie with Chesterfield at the Northern Commercials Stadium.

City welcome Sky Bet League Two side Chesterfield to Valley Parade at the weekend looking to progress into the second round of the FA Cup after the disappointment of last season's exit at the first hurdle.

The Bantams were defeated twelve months previously on home soil by another League Two side, Accrington Stanley, and McCall is understandably keen to avoid a repeat.

Chesterfield head into Saturday's cup encounter currently bottom of League Two but there have been signs of improvement from the Spireites under new boss Jack Lester.

Lester, who played together with McCall at Sheffield United, returned to Chesterfield as manager at the end of September following a highly successful period as a player at the Proact Stadium earlier in his career.

With Tony McMahon suspended for the Chesterfield match, McCall will be forced into making at least one change to his side from the starting XI that began last Saturday's win at Portsmouth.

The City chief isn't expected to make too many alterations, however, with a strong team likely to line up against the Spireites at the Northern Commercials Stadium.

McCall said: "I know Jack (Lester) well from our days at Sheffield United.

"While there might not have been a sudden improvement in Chesterfield's recent results since Jack's arrival, you can definitely see improvements in their performances.

"We will certainly be giving Chesterfield all the respect they deserve and taking absolutely nothing for granted.

"People will still remember the disappointment of last season's (first round) defeat to another lower league side in the shape of Accrington Stanley, who thoroughly deserved the win that day.

"Looking back at that Accrington game, was the team selected for that game good enough to beat a side from a division below us? 100% it was.

"It was just one of those few occasions last season, and it probably only happened three or four times during the campaign, where we underperformed throughout the 90 minutes.

"We will be picking a side on Saturday that we feel is strong enough to get us through and into the hat for Monday's second round draw.

"It is not neccessarily about those selected though.

"How those players perform once they are out on the pitch is the most important thing.

"We want the win to build confidence levels and maintain the feel-good factor and momentum around the club at the moment.

"We also know all about the financial rewards for side who progress deep into this competition."


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