The task facing Peterborough United who seek a League Cup quarter-final place for the first time in 35 years

Posh are in last-16 action at League One rivals Bradford City after wins in the competition against Bristol Rovers, Watford and Barnsley.

It’s not quite the glamour run of 35 years ago when Aldershot, Wimbledon, Newcastle United and Liverpool were despatched before Posh lost 1-0 at second tier promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough in a quarter-final replay following a 0-0 draw at London Road. Boro went on to play Manchester United in the semi-final.

Posh did once reach the semi-finals of the League Cup, back in the 1965-66 campaign when they lost over two legs to top flight West Bromwich Albion. The Baggies won 2-1 at the Hawthorns and 4-2 at London Road. Posh had beaten Newcastle, Charlton, Millwall and then First Division leaders Burnley (4-0!) in that run, but entry to the competition wasn’t compulsory for Football League clubs in those days.

Bradford City have an even greater League Cup performance as they reached the final in 2013 when a fourth tier club, a historical achievement. They lost the final 5-0 to top-flight Swansea City after beating Arsenal on penalties in the quarter-finals and Aston Villa 4-3 on aggregate in the semi-finals.

ATTENDANCE

If tomorrow’s gate is more than 21,421 it will be second biggest crowd for a League Cup tie in Posh history, and there’s a chance it could happen with £5 advance tickets on offer. Posh had however sold fewer than 1,000 tickets as of Sunday evening.

The Posh League Cup record gate is 28,378 for a tie at Spurs in 1968 which the hosts won 1-0. the other 20,000+ gates were at Brighton in 1978 (0-1) , Middlesbrough in 1992 (0-1) and at West Brom in 1965 (1-2).

The record London Road gate was 18,888 for the visit of West Brom in that 1965 semi-final.

FORM GUIDE

Bradford City have an astonishing, and some would say very dull, playing record this season. They are third in League One despite having scored just 10 goals in 12 matches, one fewer than Posh who are 20th. Only AFC Wimbledon and Wigan have scored fewer (8).

But City have also conceded just five goals in those dozen matches which is five fewer than any other League One side, and 16 fewer than Posh.

‘The Bantams’ haven’t conceded a goal in their four games under new boss Michael Duff, but three of them have finished 0-0.

City have scored more freely in their League Cup run, apart from a goalless home draw with Burnley which they won on penalties. They’ve also beaten Rochdale (2-0) and Leyton Orient (3-1).

STAR MEN

Given the above numbers it’s no surprise that City’s top scorers in League One games, Bobby Pointon and Antoni Sarcevic have scored just two goals apiece. Big summer signing Jake Beesley has scored just once.

Defender Macauley Gillesphey and forward Nick Powell scored their only League One goals in a 2-0 success against Posh on the opening day of the season.

Will Swan has scored two League Cup goals in three starts this season. Posh centre forward Harry Leonard is the League Cup’s top scorer this season with four goals.

PAST MATCHES

Posh have met Bradford City just once previously in the League Cup in a two legged first round tie in 1978 when a 4-1 home win was followed by a 1-1 draw at Valley Parade. Gary Sargent and Steve Camp both scored twice in the first leg and Camp scored again in Bradford.

REF WATCH

Up and coming official Thomas Kirk is the man in the middle tomorrow. He made his Premier League debut last season and this campaign he has most recently been operating in the Championship.

He last refereed Posh in a 3-2 League One defeat in September, 2024 when the winning goal should have been disallowed for handball.

BIG MATCH ODDS

Posh are 16-5 to win at Bradford with Sky Bet tomorrow with the home side warm favourites at 4-6. The draw is 5-2 and if the scores level after 90 minutes a penalty shootout will take place. Posh are 200-1 to win the Carabao Cup with Coral, while Bradford are 150-1.