We've done it once, we can do it again, says Bantams' giant-killing hero Duke (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

We've done it once, we can do it again, says Bradford City giant-killing hero Matt Duke

7:00am Thursday 1st November 2012 in Bantams By Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter

City keeper Matt Duke is relishing the first quarter-final in his career. But Tuesday’s spot-kick hero insists this does not have to be the end of an amazing cup run that began the week before the league season kicked off.

He said: “Who says it can’t continue? People didn’t fancy our chances at Wigan but we got the result. We’ve shown that anything can happen on the day.

“Winning at Wigan was a special night. It’s got to be one of the best I’ve been involved in because of what it meant.

“It’s a long time since the club went that far in the competition and it’s the furthest I’ve been.”

The penalty shoot-out was a personal triumph for Duke, who has endured a testing period at Valley Parade since arriving as one of Parkinson’s first signings. But he felt it was the 5,000-strong travelling army of fans who had really earned their reward.

Duke said: “It’s been a bit of a rocky road for me but this is great. More than anything, the fans deserve it because they’ve been through some bad times on the way down from the Premiership.

“We’d like to give them more games like that. We got quite far in the Johnstone’s Paint but it doesn’t have the same feeling as this competition and the history to it.

“It does lift you when you see so many people turning up to support. They’ve had a hard day at work and then fought through the traffic and it’s not easy.

“Hopefully we gave them a great day and fingers crossed we can do it again.

“It’s not been great for them seeing the club go all the way down to League Two. But hopefully the gaffer’s building a good squad and we can start to bring some good times back.

“People will talk about the Wigan game for years and we want to give them other memories to cheer about.

“We set our stall out to get men behind the ball and make it difficult for Wigan and I thought we were fantastic.

“And we always fancy ourselves when it comes down to penalties. Our lads took some great penalties and as a keeper you back yourself to save at least one.

“We haven’t got a big squad but it’s a good one. Lads have come in, like Carl McHugh at centre half, and done a great job. You can’t ask any more.”