The Bantams begin their 2019/20 Carabao Cup campaign tonight, locking horns with Sky Bet Championship outfit Preston North End.
Gary Bowyer’s men welcome their Lancashire opponents to the Utilita Energy Stadium, with the action set to get underway from 7.45pm.
City are on the hunt for their first win of the season, having drawn their opening two outings against Cambridge United and Grimsby Town.
Meanwhile, the Lilywhites sit 10th in the sport's second tier and will be looking to advance past their hosts and into the hat for the second-round draw.
The Carabao Cup holds special memories for City, having reached the final of the competition at Wembley during an unforgettable 2013 cup run.
And Bowyer’s side will again be looking to make history, beginning in front of their own fans tonight.
TEAM NEWS
City: Gary Bowyer has hinted he may rotate his squad, ahead of his side’s first cup tie of the campaign.
There could be starts for Paudie O’Connor, Shay McCartan and Hope Akpan, who are all set to return from injury.
Sam Hornby and Tyler French could also be in line to make their City debuts.
Preston: Visiting boss Alex Neil is also expected to shuffle his pack ahead of his side’s trip to West Yorkshire.
Ryan Ledson could return from injury, Tom Bayliss may make his debut and Andre Green could be handed his first start for the club.
David Nugent, however, will be forced to sit out with a calf strain.
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAID
Gary Bowyer: “We have spoken a lot about the 2013 team and had a lot of meetings about it when I first arrived at the club.
“It is now up to the players to create their own history. We want them to question the point of being at the club if they are not determined to achieve something special.
“This is probably one of the toughest first-round draws we could have been handed.
“It is a huge challenge and whichever team Preston put out would probably start in the Sky Bet Championship.”
Alex Neil: “Bradford have good experience at the top end of the pitch.
“They have got guys who have mainly operated at Sky Bet Championship level for a lot of their career, and have been really good players.
“We know we cannot take it lightly; it will be a really tough game. Gary (Bowyer) will have them well-organised and I think it will be tough.”
LAST TIME OUT
City’s last meeting with Preston came in April 2015, and sealed North End’s place in the Sky Bet League One play-offs.
The Lilywhites secured a 3-0 victory at the Utilita Energy Stadium.
Bradford City 0
Cambridge United 3 (Paul Gallagher 47’, Daniel Johnson 53’, Chris Humphrey 80’)
Sky Bet League One
Saturday April 6, 2015
Attendance: 16,032
Referee: Mark Heywood (Yorks)
City: Ben Williams; Stephen Darby (booked 46’), Christopher Routis (dismissed 14’), Rory McArdle, James Meredith; Filipe Morais (Dylan Mottley-Henry 79’), Billy Knott, Gary Liddle (Matty Dolan 78’); Billy Clarke, James Hanson, Jon Stead (Mark Yeates 65’). SUBS (not used): Matt Urwin, Tony McMahon, Reece Webb-Foster, François Zoko.
Preston: Sam Johnstone; Tom Clarke (booked 64’), Bailey Wright, Paul Huntingdon (Jack King 46’), Scott Laird; Chris Humphrey (booked 72’) (Andy Little 85’), John Welsh (booked 34’) (Neil Kilkenny 49’), Daniel Johnson, Paul Gallagher; Joe Garner, Jermaine Beckford (booked 43’). SUBS (not used): Thorsten Stuckman, Calum Woods, Callum Robinson, Kevin Davies.
MATCH OFFICIALS
This evening’s referee, Matthew Donohue, officiated City on one occasion last season, in our 3-1 home victory over Peterborough.
Donohue has take charge of two matches so far this campaign, dishing out a total of 12 yellow cards.
His two assistants are Phillip Dermott and Robert Merchant and the fourth official is Andrew Miller.
KIT COLOURS
The Bantams will line up in their claret and amber-striped home shirt tonight, with their visitors in their white home strip.
City: Claret and Amber Stripes / Black with Amber Detail / Black with Amber Detail
Preston: White / White / White and Navy Hoops
MATCH COVERAGE
Supporters unable to make the trip to Blundell Park tomorrow can follow live match action via the club’s official Twitter page.
The live feed will provide minute-by-minute coverage of the clash in addition to updates on other social media outlets such as Facebook and Instagram.
Full audio match commentary is available to iFollow Bantams subscribers, while BBC Radio Leeds’ Tim Steere and Andy Kiwomya will provide live radio commentary at 774 kHz on FM and DAB.
IFollow subscribers can also catch all the reaction with post-match interviews and content, while supporters based outside the UK with a package can even tune into a live video stream!
BACK THE BANTAMS - WITH SKY BET
City fans can place their bets on tonight's clash by CLICKING HERE.
PLEASE NOTE: All odds are subject to change.