Bradford City 0 Sheffield Wednesday 0

 City win 3-1 on penalties

 Over to you, Phil Parkinson. City were penalty perfect at Valley Parade last night to ensure Colin Cooper handed over the reins with a second successive win.

Two saves from Oscar Jansson in the shoot-out helped the Bantams sink their Yorkshire rivals 3-1 after a goalless 90 minutes.

But this was no lottery. The game had taken until the second half to come to life but City were certainly the stronger team and created all the clear-cut chances in open play.

Cooper had named the same side that had earned the season’s first victory on Saturday. New arrival Kyel Reid was not among the subs.

A day out at Wembley may be the prize for this year’s finalists but Gary Megson showed where he rates the competition by making all three Wednesday subs within the first 17 minutes. Keeper Nicky Weaver went off after just 90 seconds as the Wednesday boss cynically skirted round the rule of having to start with six regular first-teamers.

Jack Compton showed a clean pair of heels to right back Liam Palmer early on but it was Wednesday who enjoyed most of the ball without creating anything obvious.

Clinton Morrison’s shot on the turn was smothered by the hulking frame of Guy Branston while Giles Coke’s free-kick deflected harmlessly off the wall.

Then the combination of Branston, a Wednesday old boy, and Jansson shut the door on Morrison inside the six-yard box from Chris Sedgwick’s cross.

City’s first serious attempt of a sterile half came after 39 minutes as Chris Mitchell looped a header over. Robbie Threlfall popped up promisingly in the corner of the box but couldn’t get the cross right.

But City could have broken the dull deadlock right on the interval.

Michael Flynn’s clearance sent Mark Stewart scampering away and he forced a mistake out of 16-year-old debutant defender Ayo Obileye. The Scot’s initial pass was blocked by Mark Beevers but the ball ricocheted to James Hanson at the far post, who put his header a foot the wrong side of the post.

Another Obileye blunder gifted City a great chance within 20 seconds of the restart. Compton nipped on to his hesitant back-pass but keeper Richard O’Donnell managed to block.

Obileye’s nerves continued when he gave the ball away to Stewart but again O’Donnell came to the rescue.

The home side had found a bit of tempo and Compton’s cross fizzed invitingly across the goalmouth.

Stewart had worked hard again but made way for Ross Hannah after 56 minutes, presumably with Saturday in mind. It gave Sheffield-born Hannah the chance to face his boyhood heroes.

City continued to up the ante and Luke Oliver thought he had scored with a glancing header from Mitchell’s corner. The big man started to celebrate but Cecil Nyoni cleared off the line – it looked over – and Flynn hammered the rebound wide.

City finished just as strongly. O’Donnell pulled off a reflex save six minutes from time to keep out a thundering volley from Ritchie Jones and Oliver, having another fine game, clipped the bar right on full-time from Threlfall’s inviting free-kick.

But penalties brought the right result. Jones, Flynn and Hannah were all spot-on and Parkinson can look forward to a spot in round two.

CITY: Jansson 7, Moore 7, Branston 7, Oliver 8, Threlfall 6, Mitchell 6 (Bryan 72min), Flynn 6, Jones 6, Compton 7 (O’Brien 85min), Stewart 7 (Hannah 56min, 6), Hanson 6. Subs (not used): Hunt, McLaughlin.

SHEFF WED: Weaver n/a (O’Donnell 2min, 8), Palmer 5, Beevers 6, Obileye 4, Reynolds 6, Sedgwick 6, Semedo n/a (Coke 17min, 6), Prutton n/a (Nyoni 17min, 6), O’Connor 6, Uchechi 6, Morrison 6. Sub (not used): Lines.

Referee: Tony Bates.

Attendance: 3,519.