Phil Parkinson urges Bradford players to enjoy FA Cup replay at Reading

Bradford City boss Phil Parkinson has told his players to enjoy being potentially just 90 minutes from Wembley and is adamant the pressure will be on Monday's opponents Reading.

The Bantams travel to Reading's Madejski Stadium knowing victory in their FA Cup quarter-final replay will take them into a mouth-watering last-four encounter with holders Arsenal at the national stadium.

Parkinson has stressed on his club's website the importance of his League One team truly savouring the occasion.

With Reading likely to be favourites going into the tie given their home advantage and Championship status, Parkinson believes the Bantams can play without fear, knowing the burden of expectation won't be on their shoulders.

And having seen his side beat a number of teams from the leagues above already this season, Parkinson says City should enjoy the challenge of facing another higher-ranked side in a game of such magnitude. 

"I think some people almost got a bit confused in the first game by classing ourselves as favourites," Parkinson said on the club's website.

"Reading probably have a budget 10 times as big as ours and facing them at this stage of the FA Cup is another great challenge for us.

We know the pressure will be on Reading after getting the draw at our place and we can go there and be relaxed in our play without that taking anything away from the intensity of our play.

"We sit down with the players before these big matches against the better teams and we discuss with them what we need to show out on the pitch.

"The challenges we've had so far this season - Leeds, Millwall, Sunderland and Chelsea - we've rose to them, and we will need to do that again on Monday night.

"We won't go there in fear. We know the pressure will be on Reading after getting the draw at our place and we can go there and be relaxed in our play without that taking anything away from the intensity of our play.

"There is no pressure on us. It is just great to be in a game of this size.

"There will be a large number of players and managers watching the game on television very envious of us when we run out in front of a packed Madejski Stadium with one side only 90 minutes away from Wembley.

"We really have to go there and enjoy it. When you are growing up as a kid and hoping to be in professional football, you dream of being involved in games like this. When it comes around then, you have to make sure you make the most of it."

Parkinson added: "The financial rewards are huge but the main thing for us would be the achievement. To get a League 1 club to this stage of the FA Cup is a great achievement. Can we go one step further? We'll see on Monday night.

"Hopefully we will have as many fans as possible behind that goal at Reading. I truly do believe that they can make all the difference on the night.

"Reading are understandably trying to build this game up and get the atmosphere up around the ground so we need to make sure all the Bradford fans are in full voice as well."