RORY McArdle insisted an FA Cup money-spinner can still be on the cards for City despite missing out in the third round.

The Bantams failed to snare one of the Premier League big boys when last night’s draw at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff paired them with League One rivals Bury.

A trip to Gigg Lane next month was not the mouth-watering reward the club and fans had hoped for – but McArdle believes last year’s exploits prove that the big games can still follow.

The defender, who scored in City’s 2-1 win over the Shakers at Valley Parade in October, said: “We were a little bit disappointed not to get one of the big clubs from the Premier League but remember Millwall in the third round a year ago.

“We thought that was a bad draw but then it worked out brilliantly in the end. We got through that and suddenly you’re drawn away to Chelsea and then playing Sunderland.

“You’ve got to be in it to win it and we’re in there again.”

Phil Parkinson began his playing career at Gigg Lane and made 145 league appearances in four years before joining Reading.

But this will be his first trip back as City boss – Peter Taylor was in charge on their last visit when Omar Daley’s penalty clinched a 1-0 win in November 2010.

City’s cup-fighting reputation has been forged during Parkinson’s reign and McArdle has helped see off five top-flight scalps.

He added: “Generally when you get to this stage of the FA Cup, we’re the underdogs. With the headlines we’ve had over the years, teams will probably try to put one over us.

“If it means they raise their games a little bit more that shouldn’t bother us. We’re used to it now because we’ve got that experience of the big cup games.

“We learn from it and having got to the third round now, we don’t want to waste it. The league’s our bread and butter but it’s always nice to have a cup run.”