Adam Barrett competes in the air on Monday night Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Captain Adam Barrett admits that his team might be underdogs this weekend.

Gillingham have been favourites in the majority of matches they have played, having sat top of League 2 for much of the season, but head to cup specialists Bradford on Saturday reeling from the home defeat to Wycombe.

"We have been top for so long and we’ve been there to be shot at," said the 33-year-old skipper.

"They might be the favourites now with their cup exploits but we will concentrate on what we’re doing.

"We want to bounce back and we have done that well this year. Every time we have had a disappointment, we’ve come back the next game. That’s the sign of a good team."

Bradford became the first fourth-tier side in more than 50 years to reach the League Cup final, after beating Aston Villa on aggregate in the semi-final. They had knocked out fellow Premier League sides Arsenal and Wigan out in previous rounds.

Barrett said: "We’ve got 17 games to go and they are big, big games. We want to make sure we get promoted this year and so we need to roll our sleeves up, pick the bones out of Monday’s defeat and go again.

"Bradford have had the euphoria of the cup exploits. It will be a big crowd and a tough game but one, with our away form, we want to get back to winning ways in.

"You have to take your hat off to their achievements in the cup. To get to a major cup final and knock out three Premier League teams, especially (beating Aston Villa) over two legs, it’s outstanding.

"Bradford at this level is a big club and it’s a club where you look at their weekly gate (averaging 10,000) and it’s a nice ground.