McCall cautious over United tie

6:08pm Monday 18th August 2008

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Stuart McCall might not be as overjoyed as some City fans are with the plum first-round tie at neighbours Leeds United in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

The Bantams boss knows only too well what it would mean to the supporters to go to Elland Road and beat the team they love to hate.

But he is still smarting from last week’s 4-0 defeat to City’s other West Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield and is wary of the same thing happening again.

He said: “Nothing would give me more pleasure to go to Huddersfield or Leeds on a level playing field in the same league with a simliar side – but they (Leeds) are favourites to win the championship in the division above us and they’ve got a lot of good players.

“People say you’ve nothing to lose as nobody expects you to do anything but there is a lot to lose if you go there and capitulate like we did at Huddersfield.

“I’m not saying that’s going to happen again but I’m aware of the pitfalls that could lie ahead at this time.”

He continued: “Last Tuesday hurt me, and at the back of my mind I don’t want that hurt again.

“I know what the supporters felt. It hurt me to know how much hurt they were going through with ten minutes to go and we’re 4-0 down at our rivals.”

While fans might be licking their lips at the first meeting between the sides for over seven years, the fact is City have been handed arguably the hardest tie possible in a competition which, according to joint chairman Julian Rhodes, they genuinely want to do well in.

To progress they will have to do what they only once did during either of McCall’s spells as a Bantams player – win at Elland Road.

The lone success was in the Full Members’ Cup in 1986-87, City triumphing 1-0 after extra time, Greg Abbott netting.

One of the City legend’s lowest points in a claret and amber shirt came the last time the sides met there when they were thrashed 6-1 in their penultimate game before relegation from the Premier League.

His bloody face was plastered all over the papers the following day after a clash with his own team-mate Andy Myers as frustration got the better of them.

Of course, the mood around the camp is a lot more upbeat this time following a maximum points start in the league.

City fans have no need to worry that McCall will have his players going into the clash – scheduled for September 2 – with nothing but positive thoughts.

He said: “I would maybe be in a different frame of mind if it weren’t for the Huddersfield game. And rest assured there will be no negative thoughts when the tie comes round. ”

* Get your free City team picture by purchasing the T&A outside WH Smith’s in the Kirkgate Centre on Wednesday from 10.30am-3.30pm.

Joe Colbeck, Kyle Nix and TJ Moncur will be signing posters between noon and 1pm.