Parkinson: Let's use cup clash to get Bradford City going again

With four defeats in five games, the Bantams have faded after a good start and their Conference hosts aim to pile on the agony with a first-round giant-killing at The Shay.

But Parkinson, who is likely to be without James Hanson as well as Gary Liddle, sees the High Noon showdown as the ideal stage to stop the rot.

He said: "It's got all the ingredients of a really good game. The cameras are there and there's going to be a lot of spotlight because people think there's going to be an upset.

"Yes, Halifax are a good side going well, but our aim is to get our season going again in the FA Cup. It's a great chance to do that.

"We've been on the right end of some cup shocks ourselves, winning against teams from higher divisions we had no right to beat. We know the pitfalls.

"We will remind the lads of that. If anybody goes there without the right attitude, then we won't be going through.

"It will be a very tight game and I'm sure it will be 100mph. They are a strong, physical team and we're going to have to stand up as a man to that."

Hanson's expected absence has hit City's preparations, although Huddersfield's decision to allow Jon Stead to be cup-tied has softened the blow.

Parkinson was straight on to old pal Chris Powell to ask for the on-loan striker's clearance when he knew that Hanson would be struggling.

It is familiar territory for the City boss as he tries to get to the bottom of the injury issues that have plagued the targetman since March. Hanson will see the same specialist again today.

Parkinson said: "James hasn't been himself. In the Oldham game he was poor and last week we had 40 crosses in the box and a fully-fit James Hanson would have scored two or three goals.

"At half-time he was icing both his thighs because of stiffness and ideally we would have brought him off. But we had the problem with Jon Stead's dead leg, so we couldn't really do that.

"I don't think there's any real damage in there but he feels he can't get up to full pace.

"It's not a serious problem but we do need it resolved. We need to find out whether it's muscle fatigue or something that he's had before.

"The frustrating thing for me is that he was outstanding at the start of the season. He looked so confident and got his five goals.

"But since he had that thigh strain against MK Dons, we haven't had him back really even though he's played a couple of games.

"Matty (physio Matt Barrass) is pulling his hair out because there is something not quite right."

Stead, who scored City's goal in last week's loss to Doncaster, has hit the ground running in the first three appearances of his latest loan stint.

Parkinson said: "I'm really pleased Jon can play because he's been doing well and wanted to carry on.

"It's strange that, despite our results not going well, we've got players like Jon, Yeatesy (Mark Yeates), Billy Knott and Filipe Morais who are full of confidence."

Ben Williams replaces Jordan Pickford in goal but Middlesbrough winger Andy Halliday is also clear to feature. Midfielder Liddle is still sidelined with a hamstring strain.

Parkinson said: "I know people will always accuse managers of making excuses but we have had a lot of disruption. Look at the amount of changes we've had to make through injuries and not having our best players on the pitch.

"We want to get that consistency of team selection. I really wanted to go with the same team again in this game but we won't be able to do that.

"We know results haven't been good of late – but also, the season hasn't been all doom and gloom.

"Look at the Leeds and Coventry home games, MK Dons and Bristol City away. I can't remember us playing as well as that since I've been here.

"Everybody looks short term and it's been frustrating. But overall I firmly believe that we've still got some very good players at this club.

"We've got to get over that finishing line to get back winning again. When we do, I'm confident we'll set off on a good run."