Mark Trueman backs Bantams to bridge gap in Wycombe cup tie

Trueman is back in caretaker charge once again after Kevin McDonald reverted to playing duties.

And he is confident the home side can raise their game to bridge the gap with higher-division opposition.

“Naturally you do as a player,” he said. “It’s the FA Cup and the opportunity to get to the next round.

“The pressure is off a little bit. Playing a team from above, there are different challenges.

“They should be better opposition and I think this group of players seem to perform better when they are up against a top team.

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“There’s not much motivation I need to give to the players. They know what they want to achieve.

“Their performance levels are going to be high, I don’t need to push that on my side.

“We’re looking forward to it, we’re ready for it and we’ll try and get a result.”

It is a third spell at the Valley Parade helm for Trueman, who earned the permanent job in 2021 alongside Conor Sellars after their initial interim period went so well.

They were replaced by Derek Adams that summer following a poor end to the season. But Trueman had another two-game stint in charge after the Scot’s dismissal in February 2022.

With City hoping to make an appointment in the coming days, he admits there is less uncertainty about his current situation.

“In the past there was no clarity over whether I was going to take the management job or not when the results were going well,” he added.

“I think now after having the conversation with Ryan (Sparks), I know it is short term. I’m trying to prepare the team as well as I can knowing that a new manager will be appointed.

“The club need to make the right decision on the next manager and they are working hard behind the scenes.

“Hopefully, I can hand over a winning team. Kev did that with me so there’s a bit of pressure for me to do the same.”

Wycombe, who are making their first trip to City since 2018, sit 10th in League One – four points behind the play-offs with a game in hand.

Mark Trueman will fill in until City name a successor to Mark Hughes (Image: Tom Pearson)

Trueman said: “It’s a very good challenge. We’ve got to give Wycombe the right respect.

“It’s a little bit different to how Man City (under-21s) were but there are going to be times when they have the ball.

“We’ve got to be good when we win the ball back in transition. We’ve got to be clinical and keep the ball better than we have done in previous games.

“It’s going to be tough but it’s a challenge that we’re all ready for.”