Bradford City's challenge: Slay big spender! (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford City's challenge against Crawley: Slay big spender!

6:30am Friday 3rd February 2012 in Sport By Simon Parker

Welcome return: Luke Oliver, right, is back in contention after injury

Phil Parkinson has challenged his Bantams to shoot down League Two’s “Manchester City” tomorrow.

Mega-bucks Crawley make their first visit to Valley Parade as they bid to make it back-to-back promotions.

The Sussex high-flyers, who are also through to the FA Cup fifth round for the second successive year, splashed out again on deadline day to pip Sheffield United for Blackpool’s Billy Clarke.

He replaced 17-goal top scorer Matt Tubbs, who joined Bournemouth for £800,000, while they rejected a near £2m bid for two players from Peterborough.

Parkinson admitted: “They are the big spenders, the Man City of this division in terms of the money they’ve had and some of the wages.

“I don’t think Billy Clarke had a desire to go and play for Crawley over League One clubs but financially it was probably way above anything else he got offered.

“Having that money to spend is obviously a huge benefit. Even in the Conference, they had all the best strikers.

“But fortunately for us Tubbs has gone and, whatever anyone says, that’s going to be a loss.”

Crawley have lost only once since coming from behind to beat City 3-1 in September. But they have slipped to fourth after drawing their last three games.

“We knew they were the favourites at the start of the season and they haven’t disappointed so far,” added Parkinson.

“But it’s a very good yardstick for us. We’ve done well at home of late and there will be a good atmosphere. Expect-ations are on us as well and we want to put in a really committed performance.”

Luke Oliver is ready to return in the middle after missing the last two games.

Parkinson added: “He’s had a good week but we’ll look at it because Lee Bullock has done well. We won’t put Olly at risk but he is a big player for us."

*For full story, see today's T&A