CAMERON Brannagan is calling on Oxford United to make a fast start at Valley Parade today and frustrate Bradford City’s bumper crowd.

The hosts cut ticket prices to £1 and are hoping the extra backing can help end their miserable 11-match winless run in all competitions.

But the prospect of playing in front of a crowd which is approaching 20,000 does not daunt United, who are in a confident mood after climbing out of the Sky Bet League One relegation zone for the first time this season last weekend.

A professional display was needed to beat Forest Green Rovers in the Emirates FA Cup in midweek and stretch their unbeaten run to nine games.

Although the atmosphere will be completely different at Bradford, United know a similar approach is needed if they are to claim a first away win in the league.

Brannagan said: “We’ll manage the game in the right way.

“There’s going to be times when we’ll need to slow it up and break the play and get the crowd frustrated, which we will do.

“We have a lot of experience in the team and we know what we’re doing.

“We’ll be fine and if we get an early goal as well to settle us down that will be great.”

Head coach Karl Robinson echoed his midfielder’s thoughts, but insists his side cannot afford to get caught up in the occasion.

He said: “If we worry more about the fans, we’ll take our focus off our job on the pitch.

“We hope our performance will turn them – that’s the way you’ve got to look at it.

“It’s about the way you perform, not the antagonistic way that some teams may do it to wind people up.

“That’s when you get a problem.”

Ricky Holmes (back) is not fit, but there are no concerns over Gavin Whyte, who came off against Forest Green with a dead leg.

Hope Akpan could return for Bradford after missing their Cup replay against Aldershot Town with a groin problem.

TODAY’S LINE-UPS

Bradford City: from O’Donnell, Chicksen, McGowan, O’Connor, Knight-Percival, Caddis, Payne, J O’Brien, L O’Brien, Doyle, Ball, Wilson, Wood, Isherwood, Devine, Wright, Miller, Akpan.

Oxford Utd: from Eastwood, Hanson, Nelson, Dickie, Ruffels, Mousinho, Brannagan, Henry, Browne, Whyte, Mackie, Smith, Garbutt, Long, Raglan, Bradbury, Spasov, Mitchell.