Richie Kyle insists Wanderers are up for the cups as they put their League One promotion challenge on the back-burner, writes Pete Oliver.
The Whites face five league games in December as they look to step up their top-six push on the back of a five-game unbeaten run and just two defeats in their last 21 games in all competitions.
But before going on the search for more league points at Mansfield Town next Tuesday night (9th December) Steven Schumacher’s men face Vertu Trophy and FA Cup ties.
First up it’s Bradford City in the last 32 of the Vertu Trophy at the Toughsheet Community tomorrow (Tuesday night) before a trip to the County Ground on Saturday’s to face the League Two high-fliers in second-round FA Cup action.
“It is a bit strange doing two back-to-back cups but it's exciting because it's knock-out now,” said Kyle, Wanderers’ assistant head coach, ahead of a second visit in less than a fortnight from the Bantams.
“And I think when it comes to knock-out, it adds a little bit of flavour to it, a little bit of spice to it, so we're all looking forward to it. We all love playing matches; the coaches, the players. We're in this to play games and win football matches and I think when it comes to knock-outs it becomes exciting.
“I woke up this morning really excited with the week ahead because it does give you a break from the league and also gives you an opportunity to progress in a competition where we know what the prize is at the end of it and it’s not a million miles away.
“You can see it and what you're going for and I think, again, once you get momentum in these competitions you can go a long way and we're really looking forward to tomorrow night for the start of it. There's one thing for sure, the lads will be motivated tomorrow and ready to go.”
Wanderers – Trophy winners in 2023 – reached the quarter-finals last season and will book a last-16 date if they can overcome a Bradford side which stopped the Whites’ winning home run at eight games with a goalless encounter on their last away trip in League One.
City currently sit three points and three places above Wanderers in the table and go to Plymouth Argyle in the league on Saturday following their exit from the FA Cup in round one.
Both sides are likely to be much changed from last month's meeting, but Kyle believes Wanderers have the squad depth to cope as they look to give further potential opportunities to players pushing for a league start and who have already made their mark in this season’s Trophy which brought Wanderers three straight wins and 10 goals in the group stage.
“It might be a different type of game, but one thing's for sure, both teams will be going at it and we want to win and get into the next round. We've got belief in every single player in this group and whoever gets put in it is good enough to go and win the two games coming up,” added the Wanderers’ number-two.
“I think that's something we pride ourselves on, that the gaffer has shown you can be out of the squad one minute and you can be starting in a league game the next minute, so everyone has to be ready and we make a real conscious effort behind the scenes to make sure we're physically ready. Whoever goes in is more than capable and the lads who do play are good enough to play, in my opinion, in any League One team and do well.
“We’ve kept a bit of momentum going and whether that’s been with a little bit of the cup games in between we've managed to win the games and score loads of goals, so we feel like everyone physically is in a good place.
“People who are scoring goals and putting in good performances is only going to breed confidence for the whole group, the ones who are playing and who are not, and we want to build a culture and environment here where we win games of football. It's as simple as that, but you've got to be ready to win, and I think our lads at the moment are.”
Wanderers will be without injured defender Chris Forino and suspended winger Thierry Gale. But Xavier Simons is eligible to play, with the red card received by the midfielder in last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Luton Town ruling him out of the FA Cup trip to Swindon.
Tickets for the game are priced just £10 for adults and £5 concessions. For details and hospitality offers, please click HERE
Watch Richie Kyle’s full pre-match interview later on Wanderers TV