Manager Paul Jewell today appealed to Bradford City supporters to put the opening day defeat against Stockport County into perspective.

As he prepared his players for what he expects to be a tough uncompromising battle against Second Division Lincoln City in the newly named Worthington Cup, first round, first leg at Valley Parade, he said: "Everyone is disappointed, players and supporters just as I am.

"We didn't play well, but let's put the result into perspective. The players need time to gel.

"We might have spent a horrible weekend after the Stockport defeat, but we have just lost one league game. It is only one game out of 45. There is a long way to go. Let's be sensible.

"There is no doom and gloom around the place. Any negative vibes will be drummed out.

"We have got a new team and we need to work hard in training. It's not going to happen overnight, but there is a lot of quality in the squad and with a little bit of time we will get it right."

Jewell said what disappointed him most about Saturday's defeat was that Stockport 'probably outfought us at vital times' and he warns: "Lincoln will make it very difficult for us.

"If we don't match them physically we will have a hard time. They are the sort of side no one likes to play, but we have got to match them."

As reported in later editions of last night's T&A, City will be without skipper Stuart McCall who has a badly swollen ankle.

Eighteen year old midfield player Paul Bolland has been added to the squad and the hard working Bradford youngster is a possible replacement.

Striker Gordon Watson, who was not considered for Saturday's team because of a thigh strain, is now fit again and is included in the squad for what could be his first competitive match since breaking his right leg 18 months ago.

Under the rules of the league cup, clubs can name five substitutes, but only play three of them. This is the first competitive match between the clubs since the Valley Parade fire on Saturday, May 11 1985.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.