Bradford City 1-1 Brentford
The FA Cup with Budweiser
Second Round Proper
7.45pm, Friday 30 November 2012
Valley Parade, Bradford City FC
Winning clubs receive £27,000 from The FA's prize fund
Click here for fixtures
By Chris Hatherall
Bradford City earned a replay against League One high-flyers Brentford following a 1-1 draw in The FA Cup with Budweiser on Friday night - and promptly cancelled their Christmas Party!
The match will be replayed on 18 December - and with Bradford challenging for the play-offs in League Two as well as reaching the quarter-final of the League Cup it promises to be an exciting but busy month ahead.
Bradford manager Phil Parkinson said: “The lads are disappointed because they were going to have their Christmas do after the Southend game and now that’s cancelled because of the replay.
“But there’s a great spirit in the squad. We’ve had more games than anyone else and we’re used to playing midweeks.
"I don’t think any club anywhere has as exciting a month ahead of them as we have. We’re looking forward to it.”
The Bees, currently fifth in League One, were favourites going into the tie on Friday. But Bradford gave as good as they got and started the match on fire.
Even so Brentford went ahead through in-form top scorer Clayton Donaldson following good work from play-maker Adam Forshaw and striker Paul Hayes.
But Bradford, who still haven't lost a cup match this season as they are also through, were never going to give up.
They survived two scares when Donaldson headed another chance narrowly wide before seeing a second effort superbly saved by goalkeeper Matt Duke. And then a triple substitution changed the game and saw the home side really push on in the final 20 minutes.
City were rewarded with an equalising goal from big striker James Hanson who reacted quickly to fire home from 16 yards - and then came within a whisker of winning the tie when sub Nahki Wells' shot hit the post and Shaleum Logan produced a goal-saving tackle to prevent him firing home the rebound.
Brentford manager Uwe Rosler said: “I'm pleased to be in the hat. When you can't win you want to make sure you don't lose. We will have some players back for the replay when hopefully our quality will shine through. Overall I thought it was a fair result."
Bradford City
Duke; Darby, Good, McArdle, Meredith; Turgott, Doyle, Ravenhill (Atkinson, 61), Thompson (G. Jones, 61), Connell (Wells, 61), Hanson.
Substitutes not used McLaughlin, R. Jones, McHugh, Baker.
Brentford
Lee; Logan, Dean, Craig, Bidwell; Diagouraga; Donaldson, Saunders (sub Barron 71 mins), Forshaw, Forrester (Dallas, 77), Hayes (German, 82).
Substitutes not used: Moore, Pierre, Oyeleke, Redwood.
Attendance 3620
