Bantams boss Graham Alexander still a big fan of the FA Cup

The City boss can sense a different feel about tomorrow’s tie against non-league Aldershot, who were one of the biggest giantkillers last year when they smashed seven past Swindon.

The Bantams have not made it past the first round since 2020 and Alexander stressed they would not be taking the National League visitors lightly.

“It will be a tough game,” he said. “We’re well aware of what they did last year in the cup.

“We’ll show them the respect we do to every opponent.

“Ultimately, whatever competition you’re in, you’re trying to win. You don’t feel special if you get beaten.

Jamie Walker scores in last year's 2-1 defeat to Wycombe (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“I know the cup run that the club had 10 years ago is still talked about. That shows you it’s not just any old competition for everybody.”

The FA Cup has lost its sheen with the bigger clubs who tend to prioritise their attentions elsewhere. But for Alexander, it is still something to be treasured.

“With the enormity of the Premier League and Champions’ League, it isn’t the showcase it has been.

“There’s been 5.30 kick-offs and (finals being played) same day as league games. It was its own weekend and the whole country watched it.

“There was a lack of live football week in, week out and it was on from about 12pm. You’d see the players on the bus and round the hotel, stuff you never saw as a supporter.

“It was really special even if it wasn’t your club involved. Seeing behind the scenes was amazing.

“I wouldn’t say it’s lost that but other competitions have superseded it.

“But for us of a certain era, it’s still special and I think we can pass on those feelings to the younger generations.”

Aldershot made it to round three last season before going out to West Brom and are looking to upset the odds again at Valley Parade.

Alexander has promised his players will be just as up for the game.

“Aldershot are coming here but it’s only one level between us. It’s not a massive chasm.

“We have to have the same emotion around every game. Playing football should be enjoyable and exciting.

“You should never lose that or take it for granted. We’ll be as excited as they are about the game.”

Aldershot also humbled League Two champions Stockport last year. Neill Byrne was in that Hatters side, scoring in the first game, but Alexander has not spoken to him about it.

City and Aldershot splashed their way to a draw in 2018 (Image: Thomas Gadd)

He added: “It’s different players and a different club for Byrner.

“I don’t tend to do that because sometimes a player can have his own personal feelings from a game and it’s not the whole picture.

“We do our own analysis and talk to the players about what’s expected from them.

“Everyone knows in cup competitions that it’s never a given that the higher-placed team beats the lower one.”

It is a chance for City to bounce straight back from losing to Doncaster last week – their first home defeat since March.

“We talked about the backing from the supporters at Valley Parade at the end of the game even though we got beaten,” said Alexander.

“It came on the back of a lot of wins and we built the belief, the emotion and the excitement to come to Valley Parade to watch the team.

“That goes for the FA Cup. We want people to come and be excited about what they are going to see.

“In general terms, I think we’ve done that in the last five or six months.

“We have to take the pain of last week’s defeat and get back to what we were doing before. I expect our team to do that.”