Bradford V Reading at Coral Windows Stadium : Match Preview

06 March 2015 15:31
Bradford V Reading - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Hanson believes in Bradford dream

Bradford striker James Hanson boasts a rags-to-riches tale fit for any FA Cup romance but his focus is firmly on the future as the Bantams aim to book their place in a Wembley semi-final on Saturday.

The story of how Hanson rose from stacking shelves in his local supermarket to starring for his home-city club on the biggest stage has had plenty of airing in the course of his side's recent knockout heroics.

And as he prepares for the big Valley Parade quarter-final against Reading, the 27-year-old Hanson believes the time has come to put his tale of non-league toil behind him and set higher targets for himself and his club.

Hanson said: "Ever since I started scoring goals for Guiseley in the Unibond League I had the confidence I could play at a higher level and there is no reason why both myself and Bradford can't achieve this.

"We've shown in recent seasons what we're made of. When I joined in 2009 we were struggling at the wrong end of League Two and since then we've gone to a League Cup final and got promotion and now this.

"The club is thriving at the moment and with the money the club has made from the cup runs and last year's promotion it should be a massive factor for the club in terms of how it is able to progress in the next few years."

Hanson is the only member of the current Bradford squad to cost a transfer fee - he was snapped up for B#7,500 with the fee including the guarantee of a pre-season friendly.

But Phil Parkinson's side have already emphatically proved their credentials in back-to-back wins over Premier League opposition to the extent that many are making them favourites against high-ranked opponents on Saturday.

Hanson added: "We know there's no reason why we can't do it again after what we did against Chelsea and Sunderland but there is no doubt we are still going in as the underdogs.

"We're looking forward to another chance to test ourselves against higher-level opposition. They have a lot of players who have played in the Premier League so we know it is going to be a test."

The game holds particular appeal for Bantams boss Parkinson, who made 361 playing appearances for the Royals and was voted their best ever central midfielder in an online fans' poll.

"I had a fantastic period there and I'm very honoured to be a part of the club that moved from Elm Park to the Madejski Stadium, and to have seen the club develop over the years," said Parkinson.

"They've been in the Premier League twice in the last nine years and they're a great model for a lot of clubs to look at."

Parkinson expects to be able to recall former Chelsea defender Filipe Morais who has missed the last three games with a knee injury, while Gary Liddle is available again after suspension.

Ayegbeni Yakubu insists he never feared he had missed out on FA Cup glory when he quit English football for China in 2012.

The Nigeria striker is back in the Championship after a two-and-a-half year global odyssey, and ready to fire the Royals past Bradford.

Reading can secure their first FA Cup semi-final since 1927 with victory in Saturday's early kick-off at Valley Parade - and Yakubu is desperate to secure a long-overdue first trip to Wembley.

The 32-year-old former Everton favourite missed the Toffees' 2-1 cup final defeat to Chelsea in 2009 through injury, and is still itching to right that personal wrong.

"I never closed the door to say I'm not coming back to England: in football you never say never," said Yakubu.

"I never thought my Wembley dream was over. I had the chance to come back here so I took it.

"England is one of the best places to play football, so I'm happy to be here, enjoying the moment and hopefully I can do more to help the team.

"I was going crazy when I couldn't play in that game for Everton against Chelsea.

"But that was years ago, now we've got another 90 minutes to play, and hopefully we can be there again.

"If we could get through to Wembley it would be special, every player wants to play at Wembley."

Yakubu joined Reading in the January transfer window, calling time on a stint at Qatari club Al-Rayyan which followed 18 months at Guangzhou in China.

Reading boss Steve Clarke jumped at the chance to recruit the Premier League's second-highest African goal scorer of all time - with 95 strikes to Didier Drogba's 103.

Striker Simon Cox is Reading's only injury doubt due to an ankle problem, but otherwise Clarke can select from strength.


Source: PA