Phil Parkinson may dip into City’s youth ranks to face Brentford tomorrow after calling the FA Cup replay “a game we don’t need”.

The Bantams chief intends to rest as many of his regulars as possible ahead of the demanding League Two schedule over Christmas.

Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Southend has left them in fifth.

Parkinson has been given the green light by the board to make mass changes for the trip to Griffin Park after stressing that the promotion bid must not be affected.

City were reinstated in the FA Cup on appeal after they had been kicked out for fielding Curtis Good in the first game when he was not cleared to play.

Parkinson agreed with the principle of City fighting their corner but he refuses to jeopardise the games coming up by using players who have already spent more minutes on the pitch than any others in the country.

He said: “I told the chairmen they did that appeal to get justice for the club because it was a wrong decision. They did not do it to chase more money in the FA Cup.

“And they said that if I want to play the whole youth team, then I can do that and give them experience in this game. I need to look after the (senior) players.

“I totally understand why they appealed because it was a ridiculous decision to throw the club out. But it was a game we didn’t need.”

Parkinson will employ the likes of Ricky Ravenhill, Alan Connell, Ritchie Jones and Zavon Hines – who gave a lively cameo in the last 20 minutes on Saturday. Kyel Reid also travelled with the squad to Essex and is set to be involved.

But other untried youngsters will beef up the squad.

Parkinson said: “The fans who travel down there should know that I will always put a team out who can do the club justice.

“However Curtis can’t play, Tom Naylor can’t play, Craig Forsyth can’t play and Ross Hannah will be back with us next week but he can’t play because he wasn’t registered in time before the first game.

“All the players who need a game will play and I’ll try my best to give everybody else a rest. The chairmen are more than happy with that.

“We’ll give everyone we can a game and some of the youth team.”

Hannah plays the final game of his three-month loan at Grimsby on Friday. The striker has netted eight times for the promotion-chasing Blue Square Bet side and is likely to be a permanent target when the transfer window opens next month.

Parkinson was chuffed with City’s display at Southend, despite seeing them blow a two-goal lead in the last ten minutes.

Nahki Wells put City ahead with his 15th of the season before Luke Prosser’s own goal seemed to have clinched a fourth away win. But Southend hit back through Ryan Cresswell and Gavin Tomlin’s injury-time leveller.

Parkinson said: “Of course we’re disappointed not to win it but I can’t be critical of anyone. It’s a great point for us against a good side. I can’t praise the lads enough.”