MATT Kilgallon won’t have a word said against the Checkatrade Trophy now.

The competition has been hammered from pillar to post over the hair-brained scheme to introduce academy teams from higher divisions.

It watered down an already under-valued tournament and even the top clubs knocked back the invitation to take part.

For the likes of City, mustering the enthusiasm to face a collection of unproven foreign lads in Stoke City colours was a challenge.

But five months on, the Bantams are one of the eight remaining sides – and just two wins from Wembley.

There is a sense of anticipation for Tuesday’s quarter-final trip to Oxford; something that certainly wasn’t present at a near-deserted Valley Parade in August.

Kilgallon has been there from the off – a second-half appearance against Stoke was his first for the club.

He has started three of the four ties since, including the latest win on a Cheltenham “cow field”. So there are few better qualified in the dressing room to describe the Trophy’s dubious merits.

Kilgallon said: “It’s funny because everyone was hammering the cup at the start. You’d hear people complaining that it’s ‘doing our heads in’ and ‘there are too many games’.

“It was a bit strange in the group games when you’d play them once a month.

“But as you keep winning and get closer to Wembley, everybody’s suddenly changed to ‘get ready for Tuesday, we’ve got another game’.

“It seems ages ago now, thinking back to when we played Stoke, and that was the first time I got on.

“But you win your league, win again and suddenly it’s all right and people are talking about Wembley.”

Kilgallon’s first foray into the third tier has been mainly limited to cup outings. With the defensive resolve demonstrated by Stuart McCall’s team so far, he has played just five times in League One.

James Meredith’s ankle injury earlier in the season gave him a brief run at left back.

But there has been barely a sniff in his favoured central role, where Romain Vincelot and Nathaniel Knight-Percival have ruled the roost.

The lack of opportunities has not surprised Kilgallon – the test has been keeping switched on for when a chance does arise.

He said: “I knew I’d have to wait for a chance because when I came I missed the pre-season. I knew I needed a bit of time to get up to speed.

“But the centre halves have done well and I haven’t had the opportunity to knock on the gaffer’s door. There’s no point.

“I’ve just had to be patient, stay fit and support the lads.

“You’ve got to be ready because there are so many games in this league and you can be thrown in whenever.

“If you haven’t done it right in training or you’re not fit, you just kill yourself. But I enjoy keeping fit, so it’s no problem.

“The main challenge is definitely the mental side of it and getting your head round it. You train all week and then on the Saturday you don’t get on.

“Then you’ve got to run after the game. It’s no fun sprinting up and down to the halfway line and back when it’s freezing and you can’t feel your toes!

“Then you’ve got to run Monday when all the other lads who played come in.

“That’s the one that tests you and sometimes you can spit your dummy out a little bit. But it’s all part and parcel of it.”

So Kilgallon has seized upon the outings in the Checkatrade, even if they hardly capture the imagination of the public. Only 1,081 were at the LCI Rail Stadium in midweek – a combined total of just 6,596 have watched City’s five games.

Kilgallon said: “It’s better than playing a reserve game at 2pm on a Tuesday. That’s very hard to get going.”

The defender played at Wembley for Sheffield United in the 2009 Championship play-off final when they were beaten 1-0 by Burnley.

Despite the result, it remains a fond memory – and he would love a repeat, whatever the competition.

He recalled: “That was an incredible day with Sheffield United because the fans packed it out. I remember leaving Bramall Lane for the stadium and seeing the amount there cheering the bus was crazy.

“It’s a fantastic experience going to Wembley and something to tell the kids about that you played there a few times.

“Bradford City have got massive support and you know they’d fill it out if they got the chance. It would be a great day out for them as well.”

But would Kilgallon keep his starting slot if the Bantams do make it to the April 2 showpiece. Or would McCall resort to the regular back four?

“He wouldn’t do that,” said Kilgallon. “I’m sure he wouldn’t. But we’ve got a big squad and we’ve got some good players who aren’t playing.”