Luke Oliver confident Bradford City can repeat opening cup win in league

8:20am Monday 13th August 2012 in Bantams Photograph of the Author By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter

City match-winner James Hanson pursues Notts County opponent Hamza Bencherif City match-winner James Hanson pursues Notts County opponent Hamza Bencherif

Luke Oliver hailed City’s impressive Capital One Cup victory at Notts County – and then roared: “Bring on Gillingham!”

Phil Parkinson’s men claimed the scalp of the League One side 1-0 thanks to James Hanson ’s superb extra-time winner.

It was the perfect way to warm up for the opening game of the League Two season at Gillingham this coming weekend, according to Oliver.

The towering centre-back formed a solid partnership with Rory McArdle, one of six new players to start the game, and believes the Bantams can now approach their league campaign with confidence.

“We’re delighted to get a win against a good League One team and it was a bonus to get a clean sheet,” said Oliver.

“If we can go to Notts County and win 1-0, why can’t we do it again at Gillingham on Saturday?

“I honestly believe that we will be competing at the right end of the table this season.

“It’s a tough start – but that’s what you want because you can gauge where you are.”

Oliver committed himself to City earlier this summer by signing a new two-year contract.

Last season’s player of the year said: “I’m desperate for success in my career and I always wanted to stay with the club. I had a good season last year and I’ve got a good rapport with the fans.

“They’ve been really good to me and everyone goes on about this club being in the dark ages and on a downward spiral for the last ten years.

“But it would be great to be in a team that finally moves in the right direction – and I believe we can do that this season.”

Parkinson handed debuts to Stephen Darby, James Meredith, McArdle, Gary Jones, Alan Connell and Garry Thompson.

All six impressed and the City boss could now have a major selection dilemma for the Gillingham game if Andrew Davies and Ritchie Jones are passed fit.

Goal-scorer Hanson twisted his ankle during Saturday’s win but should be available for the weekend.

Parkinson, meanwhile, is continuing to assess Zavon Hines and could organise a practice match this week for the winger and other trialists.

Ricky Ravenhill has been named as club captain, with midfielder Gary Jones – who enjoyed an outstanding debut as skipper at Notts County – continuing to wear the armband in his absence.

Comments(7)

LuvFootball says...
9:37am Mon 13 Aug 12

Absolutely no reason why this can not be our season. Even if we just miss out of the play offs I will be still grateful we have made strides with a stronger team and a more focused manager.

Would sooner get the Gills out of the way now while they have not had their best off season so far, before they get more focused. I am not saying we will win against them now and if we did play them later this season we would lose, but it is one game I would like to see crossed off our fixture list and look at other teams. I still fancy them to be strong over the course of the season though.

This can be our season, we have had a brilliant start, and a start I was not personally expecting. Let's move that off into the league now.

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LuvFootball says...
9:42am Mon 13 Aug 12

One other thing, Hines I believe would be a decent signing, but is it a position we are weak in? I do fear for Hannah, but as he has not done it in the football league and as Parkinson sees him in training week in week out, could this be yet another one of our players that we over rate because of what he has done in none league football a couple of seasons ago? If we let him go, would he end up in none league like most of our "top" players do.

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Meat Pie says...
10:37am Mon 13 Aug 12

Jesus - and it's not even Thursday yet !!!!

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Thee Voice of Reason says...
10:46am Mon 13 Aug 12

Lets not jump the gun. A great performance and a very welcome win. Now the Premier League sides come in (Not the big ones thats round 30 it would be nice to grab one of them or one of the local teams at home.

We have 46 league games to go and getting a good start is essencial in making sure we are challenging this season. Early signs are promising but lets hope come the end of August we are staring down the barrel of a gun like last season, talk is cheap let the football do the talking.

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theoutsider says...
12:48pm Mon 13 Aug 12

I have to say that I left the game on Saturday very encouraged by the performance. We looked organised; better so than County. Aside from a 10 min period prior to half time City were on top. I was forced to take back my sceptism of Gary Jones who was collosal in midfield. Directing, blocking, linking and bossing things. Will Atkinson earned praise he actually looks better as a central midfielder and he linked things up to good effect at time. It was nice to see Mr P responding to the keeper calmities v Bury by recalling Duke for McLouglin. It proved the right call with Duke pulling off a incredible stop when the ball looked goalbound although I doubt he knew much of how he got his glove on it!. I learned that Alan Connell is by a distance the best forward at the club, willing, agile and dangerous for opponents. There looked a class difference between him and Naki Wells. Connell calm and clever in posession v Wells energetic and tricky yet at times unable to hold the ball. It has to be Connell to start for me and then take yer pick Hanson or Wells alongside.
It was great to get through to the next round on an early season afternoon when we might have been expected to go out. On the evidence there is enough here to encourage me to believe that the 30 points from the first 15 games needed to stamp our auto promotion credentials just might be attainable.

Well done City !

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Danstarr69 says...
2:06pm Mon 13 Aug 12

LuvFootball wrote:
One other thing, Hines I believe would be a decent signing, but is it a position we are weak in? I do fear for Hannah, but as he has not done it in the football league and as Parkinson sees him in training week in week out, could this be yet another one of our players that we over rate because of what he has done in none league football a couple of seasons ago? If we let him go, would he end up in none league like most of our "top" players do.
Yes. Wingers = Reid, Thompson and Atkinson. We need Hines as a back up for Reid.

We also need 1 centre mid player and maybe 1 more full back although Bass looks more than capable as sub left back.

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basil fawlty says...
1:20pm Tue 14 Aug 12

Usually when city players start talking positively about what theyre going to do the team falls flat on its face. However something seems right about the current squad and maybe for once its going to be a great season. Time is needed for the squad to gell so a few bumps are to be expected but 46 games from now could see the city back as a force.

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