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Club News

Parkinson relishing big match buzz

12 April 2013

Club News

Parkinson relishing big match buzz

12 April 2013

Bantams boss Phil Parkinson was in bullish mood on the eve of City's mouth-watering clash at Chesterfield this Saturday.


Parkinson's men travel to Chesterfield's Proact Stadium this weekend currently four points ahead of the Spireites in the League 2 table and occupying the all-important final Play-Off berth.


With a defeat this Saturday leaving Chesterfield as many as seven points behind the Bantams in the standings, City's hosts know that they must go for a win on home soil if they wish to keep their Play-Off dreams alive.


After beating Bristol Rovers on Tuesday to jump into the Play-Off zone though, City themselves will be keen to keep their current good run of form going as the regular league season edges ever closer to its climax.


Both Chesterfield and the Bantams, who are set to be backed by nearly 3,000 fans at the game, are also currently joint top of the League 2 form table, making Saturday's clash all the more highly-anticipated.


All in all then, it is safe to say that much will be at stake when the Bantams and the Spireites meet this Saturday afternoon, and Parkinson himself wouldn't have it any other way.


Parkinson said: "We have to look forward to the game.


"The better the atmosphere, the better we seem to play.


"We've seen that in some of our recent homes games and in the cup matches we've had this season.


"When there is an intense atmosphere around the ground, we tend to rise to that challenge.


"I'm sure they'll be a cracking atmosphere there tomorrow and we can't wait to be involved in it.


"We've trained well today and the lads are looking sharp and confident.


"If you are a good team with good individuals, which I think we are, you want to play in the big games.


"We have shown in the past that we are able to perform when questions have been asked of us in big games, and we're going to have to do it again against a good side in Chesterfield this Saturday.


"They are one of the in-form teams in the division and they'll be looking for the Play-Offs themselves.


"It's good in a way to be playing another side in contention - I just think it adds to the occasion."


The players were going through their final preparations on the training ground today ahead of Saturday's encounter after being given two days off to recharge their batteries following the Bristol Rovers win.



Despite taking a couple of kicks during Tuesday's impressive victory, Ricky Ravenhill was one of the players on the pitch this morning and will be fit to feature in Parkinson's match-day squad for the trip to Derbyshire.


Parkinson added: "Ricky is fine now. He is always the sort of player who is going to take a few whacks because he goes in bravely all over the pitch. 


"He makes so many important tackles that he is going to get those bumps and bruises.


"But he has come in today for training and he looks great.


"Rest mentally and physically can be more important at this time of year than actual training.


"We do remind players of a few bits and pieces, but the players should know by now their roles and responsibilities (in a game).


"It is important that we don't take too much out of their legs on the training ground.


"They (the players) have looked good on the training pitch today and we have to take that into tomorrow."


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