BRADFORD are expected to make as many as seven changes for tonight's Capital One Cup clash against York City.

The Bantams' boss Phil Parkinson traditionally uses the first round of the competition to rotate his squad and he is unlikely to forego that policy following Saturday's 4-1 defeat at Swindon in their Sky Bet League Two curtain-raiser.

From the team that kicked off that contest, only goalkeeper Ben Williams seems certain to retain his place with 20-year-old rookie Joe Craknell, who is yet to make his pro debut, the only alternative in that position.

Tony McMahon is poised to switch from midfield to right back, though, while centre-half Rory McArdle is likely to fill that role again this evening with Christopher Routis staying in the side too.

But second-half substitutes at Swindon - Paul Anderson, Steve Davies and Mark Marshall - are all set to start against the Minstermen, along with unused replacements Luke James, Alan Sheehan and Gary Liddle.

Ex-Minsterman James Meredith could also be rested to give ex-Manchester City trainee Greg Leigh an outing at left back.

The Australian defender will make the bench, though, if he is left out of the first XI against his former team.

Portuguese winger Filipe Morais is the only definite absentee with long-term, knee ligament damage and it is understood that Parkinson - now the sixth-longest serving manager in English football at three years and 347 days - will switch from the diamond system he employed at the County Ground to the more conventional 4-4-2 formation he has favoured in the past.

Having reached the Captial One Cup final in 2013 when they were subsequently beaten 5-0 by Swansea, Bradford have not lost to a team from a lower division in the competition since a 2-1 home defeat to Notts County 11 years ago.

Including pre-season, Saturday's loss at Swindon was Bradford's third straight defeat having been beaten by Burnley (2-0) and Whitby (1-0) in their final two friendlies.

Prior to those matches, the West Yorkshire outfit enjoyed victories over Carlisle (2-0), St Mirren (1-0), Motherwell (3-0) and Farsley Celtic (3-0) but also went down 2-1 to Guiseley.

James Hanson was the leading marksman with three goals during the friendly fixtures and Parkinson might hail the 6ft 4in striker from the bench if needed at Bootham Crescent, along with last term's 14-goal top scorer Billy Clarke.

Along with Meredith, Hanson and Clarke, others set to be named as substitutes from Saturday's starting line-up are Nathan Clarke, Stephen Darby, Billy Knott and Josh Morris.

Bradford (probable): Williams, McMahon, McArdle, Sheehan, Leigh, Anderson, Routis, Liddle, Marshall, James, Davies.