The euphoria in and around Horsfall Stadium following the FA Cup draw at Wembley that handed Avenue a tie at npower League One outfit Doncaster Rovers soon evaporated.

A weakened but definitely not second string Bradford side bowed out of the West Riding County Cup on Tuesday after a 4-1 defeat at Guiseley.

That overshadowed the build-up to Saturday's Blue Square Bet North Division visit of Bishop's Stortford.

Instead of focusing on an important league game, all the talk at the ground this week has been dominated by their ‘embarrassing’ loss to their near neighbours in what was a repeat of last season’s County Cup final.

Players and assistant manager Mark Hume were all critical of the performance at Nethermoor but Bradford boss John Deacey is experienced enough to turn that to his advantage and fire up his squad for the visit of the Bishops, who have not had the best start, having won just three of their ten league games this term.

The visitors are 16th in the table while Avenue are just in the top half. The home side have more points, lost fewer games and boast a better goal difference.

Deacey will be expecting a reaction from his squad following the capitulation in the first half at Guiseley. Avenue were 3-0 down after ten minutes, and he has read them the riot act.

The bottom line is that anyone who is not at the top of their game on Saturday or next Tuesday’s trip to Wales to take on Colwyn Bay cannot expect to be involved at Doncaster’s Keepmoat Stadium in nine days' time.

It is play-for-your-shirts time, and just to add to the mix Deacey has players returning from injury and suspension.

Close-season signing Jamie Jackson returned to the side against Guiseley, bans have been served and Ross Daly and Amjad Iqbal are close to comebacks.

Deacey had hoped the Doncaster Rovers' FA Cup Yorkshire derby would be televised but after today’s announcement of the three ties being chosen by broadcasters it appears unlikely.

For Deacey’s quotes on the big game see Saturday's T&A (extensive quotes from the manager will feature in the non-league page).