By RICHARD SUTCLIFFE

Andy O'Brien has vowed to continue ignoring the Premiership's big-name strikers who try to unsettle opponents with verbal abuse.

The Bradford City defender has been one of the successes of the season after striking up a great understanding with David Wetherall.

O'Brien has faced some of the biggest names in European football this season while helping the Bantams' battle for Premiership survival. And he says many have tried to rile the 20-year-old during games, but he has risen above any taunts.

O'Brien said: "I keep my mouth shut though I do get plenty of abuse. The strikers tend to say a few things but all they want to do is goad me.

"My way of thinking is if I get into a slanging match, I will not be doing my job. They will keep doing it throughout a game in the hope they can laugh at me after the game behind your back after sticking a goal in.

"It has happened a lot more this season than in the Nationwide League. A lot of the bigger-name players don't like the younger players doing well against them. They don't like people kicking them and getting stuck in, but that is my job."

O'Brien and Wetherall are hoping to shackle the most expensive strike pairing in the country when the Bantams face Alan Shearer and Duncan Ferguson at Newcastle United on Saturday.

The duo were kept quiet in City's 2-0 victory at Valley Parade and O'Brien said: "Shearer is one of those who just gets on with the game and doesn't need to use abuse. He doesn't talk a lot."

Tickets priced £8 are available for the live beam-back of the match at Valley Parade from the ticket office.

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