Preview: Bradford City v Owls

Wednesday turn their attentions to Johnstone's Paint Trophy action on Tuesday night when they travel to League Two Bradford City in the first round.

The competition will be way down the pecking order for Owls boss Gary Megson this season, but competition rules state the Owls can't make wholesale changes to their starting line-up.

At this stage of the season, a winning run will also be important for confidence, and a first away win of the campaign is also at stake for Wednesday.

For the Bantams, it'll be the chance for new boss Phil Parkinson to get a confidence-boosting win against higher-division opposition.

New Bantams boss Phil Parkinson told the official Bradford website:

'I spoke to him (Colin Cooper) this morning, and he clearly knows the players better than I do.'

'Just to keep the continuity going from Saturday, he has taken training this morning and he will be sorting out all the organisational stuff for tomorrow.

'I will also be seeking his advice when it comes to the team selection. I think that is the best thing to do for tomorrow and then we will take it from there.

'It was only really Sunday evening that everything was really finalised regarding my position here, so I haven't had a great deal of time to think about everything.

'I spoke to all the staff individually this morning and asked them if we could continue everything as normal at the moment.

'We will get the Sheffield Wednesday completed to the best of our ability and then sit down on Wednesday and see where we go from there.'

Bantams fans won't know what to expect from their starting line-up when Phil Parkinson takes charge of City for the first time against the Owls.

The former Charlton and Hull boss was named as the Bantams' new manager following the resignation of Peter Jackson, and he'll be hoping for a bit of 'new manager luck' in his first game.

Parkinson acted quickly to make Kyel Reid his first signing at Valley Parade and the former Barnsley man could get the nod to make his debut.

City picked up their first win of the season on Saturday, a 4-2 win over Barnet, and they have no fresh injury or suspension concerns for the visit of Wednesday.

Reid only arrived at Bradford over the weekend, becoming Parkinson's first signing at the club, but will be eager to make an early impression on his new supporters should he get the nod to play.

Owls boss Gary Megson is expected to make changes to the side that beat Scunthorpe United 3-2 at the weekend, but not the wholesale changes we saw in the Carling Cup, due to JPT competition rules.

Richard O'Donnell, who's impressed in the two Carling Cup matches he's played in this season, is set to take over from Nicky Weaver in goal.

Reda Johnson, Paul Lines, Chris Sedgwick and James O'Connor will be amongst the names expected to step in to the starting eleven, as Megson has one eye on next Monday's league clash at Charlton Athletic.

Should Madine get the green light to start, the striker will want to continue the form that saw him score twice in the 3-2 league win over Scunthorpe on Saturday.

Form:

Bradford: W-L-L-D-L

Wednesday: W-L-W-L-L

Head-to-Head:

Bradford wins: 13

Wednesday wins: 12

Draws: 12

Last Time Out:

Wednesday 1-2 Bradford

Hillsborough, 12/02/2005

City grabbed the three points the last time the sides met in League One in 2005. Steve Maclean levelled a Nicky Summerbee opener before former Owl Owen Morrison snatched a 90th-minute winner for the visitors.

v Charlton Athletic (A) - 05/09/11

v MK Dons (H) - 10/09/11

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