DARLINGTON manager Gary Bennett is backing his players for another cup shock when they go to Bradford City tonight.

Quakers head for West Yorkshire a goal down after last week's first leg, but Bennett believes his side are capable of pulling off another shock against the Premiership's bottom club, just like they did in the last round at Nottingham Forest.

"We've got nothing at all to lose," he said. "The players held their heads high after the display last Tuesday, but they must do that again. If they don't, then Bradford will win.

"They must produce the same level of commitment as they did last week, all the way through the match."

Bennett has a couple of injury problems to worry about, and he will give defenders Craig Liddle and Neil Aspin fitness tests at lunchtime today.

He said: "Both of them picked up knocks at Macclesfield on Friday. If they don't feel right, then we might not risk them."

Bennett conceded that other members of his squad are starting to feel the effects of two games a week.

"One or two of them are a little tired, and they've had no time to rest injuries.

"But remember in the last round, we rested seven players, and the team still came away with a good result.

"The spirit in the team is very good, and all the players are working hard for each other.

"It is a good opportunity for some of the lads. There were some pluses from the game on Friday night. Richard Hodgson, for example, did very well after he came on, and added a little bit of spice to the team.

"He is one of several good players who are coming through. If they keep doing well, then the next problem will be hanging on to them."

Bennett has added Steve Walklate and Graham Liddle to Friday's squad, while recent signing Paul Beavers might make the bench.

Bennett is adamant that the goals will flow soon, despite the side having only a Lee Nogan goal to show for their efforts at Macclesfield on Friday.

"Even players like Kevin Phillips have been struggling to score this season. Teams do struggle to score goals sometimes.

"But we are still creating chances, and the opportunities are coming along. Nobody we have played this season has caused us great problems. We caused our own on Friday, and we gave away a sloppy goal."

Bennett wants his players to adapt to the game from the first whistle tonight, as he admits they started slowly at Macclesfield.

"The players can't keep relying on me to pull them out of it at half time. They must sort it out themselves on the field. We made a simple game hard on Friday night in the first half."

Squad: Collett, Finch, Reed, Pepper, C Liddle, G Liddle, Aspin, Himsworth, Walklate, Kilty, Elliott, Gray, Naylor, Angel, Hodgson, Nogan, Hjorth, Kaak, Beavers

l ONE player who won't be in the reckoning tonight is defender Christophe Raymond, who has returned to France in order to recover from a hamstring injury.

"We might have another look at him when he's fit again," said Bennett.

Meanwhile, midfielder Martin Gray believes that Quakers have a real opportunity to progress tonight.

"We've still got a good chance," he said.

"We played well against them last week, and they were genuinely surprised at our quality of play.

"We're going there with nothing to lose at all, but it will be important for us to keep it tight early on.

"Apparently, Bradford will be fielding their strongest available side, because they want to win badly after the recent results. They lost on Saturday, and they will be desperate for a cup run.

"Overall, we were happy with our performance in the first leg, and Dean Windass told me that their players were impressed by our standard of football."

Gray doesn't mind the two-games-a-week schedule which Quakers have had since the second week of the season.

"If you ask players in the Premiership to do it, then maybe some of them wouldn't be able to.

"There's two ways of looking at it. If you're not getting results, then it becomes a hard graft. But if you're getting results like we are, then the next game can't come quick enough. I'd rather play at the moment than train."

Admission to the game has been reduced for under 16s to £1.

l DARLINGTON chairman George Reynolds is joining the after dinner speaker circuit. He has agreed to be the guest speaker at Northern League Tow Law's dinner on Friday November 3.