FORMER City loanee Connor Ripley has been told to forget his EFL Cup blunder ahead of tomorrow’s return to Valley Parade.

Ripley (pictured) spent half a season with the Bantams in 2013 under Phil Parkinson as Jon McLaughlin’s deputy but did not get a game.

Currently on loan at Oldham from Motherwell, he has started this term well and has clocked up three clean sheets on the bounce in the league.

But he was at fault for the second goal at Preston on Tuesday which wrapped up the second-round cup tie for the Championship club – Oldham’s first loss since the opening day.

Boss Stephen Robinson has no fears about Ripley dwelling on the error.

He said: “I have nothing but praise for Connor. He has made a bad decision but with a young goalkeeper, they are going to make mistakes at times.

“He made a mistake but he also kept us in the game in the first half with a super save. He will pick himself up as he is a strong character.”

For those who think Stuart McCall has been busy over the summer, consider the fact that Ripley is one of 16 new faces at the Lancashire club.

Robinson, who stepped up from assistant boss at Motherwell to take the job, is still looking for another striker.

Oldham have failed to score in four of their six outings so far – and their only league goal came from Bury’s Leon Barnett in his own net.

Robinson had been confident of landing a specific Premier League loan target this week but the player’s parent club appear reluctant to let him leave before the end of the month.

While City enjoyed an extra day off because of a free midweek, Robinson has criticised his own team’s hectic schedule.

“It is ridiculous to be honest,” he said. “They have banged in loads of games when people are still trying to get their match sharpness together.

“But we will cope with it.”