“I’VE done all right in the FA Cup as a manager at different places.”

That’s a bit of an understatement from Aldershot boss Tommy Widdrington.

City should be wary of the man who has masterminded three shocks over League Two opposition in the last two seasons – all away from home.

Two years ago, Widdrington led National League North King’s Lynn to victory at Doncaster.

And last year, his Aldershot side pulled off a mind-blowing 7-4 win at this stage against Swindon - the first non-league club to score that many against league opposition.

They followed that up by claiming Stockport’s scalp. Neill Byrne scored in the first tie, a 2-2 draw, but the Shots headed north to win the replay against the team that would go on to be crowned League Two champions.

Aldershot reached round three – something City haven’t managed since 2018 – where their journey ended at West Brom.

“These are the things I will be asking the lads,” Widdrington told the T&A ahead of Saturday's tie.

“Remember the feelings they had going to Swindon and doing that and creating a little bit of history in the competition.

“We know we’re not going to win the FA Cup. But you can win your mini cup finals along the way and that’s how we’ll be thinking.

“If you played the game 10 times, Bradford should win it 10 times.

“But there’s also that what if and if this happens or that happens. Funnier things have happened than Aldershot beating Bradford.”

Widdrington had a reputation as a combative midfielder for the likes of Southampton, Grimsby and Port Vale. His young side, albeit in the bottom half of the National League, promise to give as good as they get.

 

 

“I’ve played at Bradford in the Championship with Grimsby and Port Vale and I obviously remember them being in the top flight.

“It’s a big club and there aren’t many bigger in the draw that we could have pulled out with the stadium and everything.

“We understand the difference between the two clubs but I’ll back my team to certainly put up a good showing on any given day. The one thing we’ll do is give them a game.

“I said to the chairman that anyone at our end who doesn’t see this as a really good tie needs to give their head a wobble.

“But I didn’t realise that they’d met a couple of times before. Let’s hope we can reverse it after losing the last two.

“We’re aware of the enormity of the task. We’ve got to be at our best and Bradford have got to have an off day.

“If that happens, there’s always a chance.”

Aldershot have won only one of their last 10 games and were left reeling by a season-ending knee injury for captain Olly Harfield.

Widdrington admitted: “It is a big blow and it was such an innocuous challenge that was made on him. It’s a horrific injury for the lad.

City watching their winning penalty shoot-out in 2018City watching their winning penalty shoot-out in 2018 (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“That has hurt us, without a shadow of a doubt, because he was an integral part of the team all last season and we were just getting up to speed when it happened.

“But one man’s misfortune is another’s opportunity.

“We’re a young, fit, athletic side and we’ll try to bring our A game on Saturday.

“For some of my lads, this will be the biggest stage they’ve been on.

“But a lot of them have had upbringings in the game where they’ve been at a good level right through development football but not quite broken through into the first team at Championship or Premier League academies.

“I’d like to think that the better the stage, the more they should want to play.

“I don’t see it as a fearful thing. They should be looking forward to this and everyone of them should want to be on the pitch.

“The FA Cup is a big part of what our season is. It’s not something that you budget for but we all know the financial rewards if you do manage to get a couple of wins.”