Brentford V Bradford at Griffin Park : Match Preview

17 December 2012 15:31
Brentford V Bradford - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Loan trio miss out for Bees

Brentford are without loanees Rob Kiernan, Marcello Trotta and Lee Hodson for the FA Cup second-round replay against Bradford.

Wigan midfielder Kiernan, Fulham striker Trotta and Watford defender Hodson have all been denied permission to play in the competition by their parent clubs.

Kiernan had to go off at half-time during Saturday's 2-1 win at Notts County with concussion so was unlikely to be fit anyway.

On-loan Norwich midfielder Tom Adeyemi, fit again after a month out with a hamstring injury, replaced Kiernan at Meadow Lane and he is eligible to play.

Boss Uwe Rosler gave back-up goalkeeper Richard Lee a run-out in the original tie, which ended 1-1, so he should figure again.

Midfielder Kevin O'Connor (ankle) and striker Farid El Alagui (knee) are still out.

Phil Parkinson will ring the changes as the Bantams look to maintain their incredible record in knockout competitions against the Bees.

Bradford have yet to taste defeat in a cup competition this term, going 10 games unbeaten across the Capital One Cup, Johnstone's Paint Trophy and FA Cup.

However, the downside to such an impressive run has meant Parkinson's men have had to negotiate their way through a series of gruelling fixtures, some of which have included extra-time and penalty shoot-outs.

One of the first-team regulars who definitely will not feature is midfielder Nathan Doyle, who serves a one-match ban after picking up a fifth caution in Saturday's draw to Southend.

In-form striker Nahki Wells, who took his tally to 15 for the season against the Shrimpers, may be among those rested after struggling with a knee problem of late.

Will Atkinson has had to contend with a hip problem while fellow midfielder Gary Jones, 35, played the entire game of Bradford's historic spot-kick success over Barclays Premier League giants Arsenal.

Speaking to the Bantams' official website, Parkinson explained: "I have told both of our chairmen our plans for next Tuesday and they are happy and understand that we are going to make as many changes as possible.

"That will include having some of the youth-team players with us.

"We have to manage the lads properly with the amount of games we've had already and the amount of games we have coming up in this next month or so.

"We will be going to Brentford looking to put a good performance in, as we always do, but I have to be fair to some of our players."

Source: PA