Hull City to play against Bradford in Carabao Cup first round

HULL City will play Yorkshire rivals Bradford City in the opening round of the Carabao Cup.

The draw was made on Thursday afternoon just hours after the Championship fixtures were released, and the clash against League Two opponents has been sandwiched in between the opening fixtures against Bristol City and Preston North End.

The visit to Valley Parade will be City’s first 2005 when the Tigers won 2-0 in a League One fixture courtesy of goals from Stuart Elliott and Nick Barmby on the way to promotion from the third tier.

It will also see a swift reunion with former skipper Richie Smallwood, pictured, who completed a move to the Bantams earlier this week following his release by the Championship club.

The Tigers will hope for a better outcome than last season when they were dumped out of the competition at the first round stage by Wigan Athletic, with the Latics victorious on penalties at the MKM Stadium.

Championship, League One and League Two sides have made up the 35 ties in the First Round, though Burnley and Watford will not join the competition until the second round despite their relegation last season.

The Clarets will be joined by the Premier League sides that are not competing in Europe, before the last remaining seven enter in round three.

As for the rest of the tournament, the following fixtures, excluding the final, will take place as follows: Round two - 24 August 2022; round three - 9 November 2022; round four - 21 December 2022; quarter-finals - 11 January 2023; semi-final first leg - 25 January 2023; semi-final second leg - 1 February 2023; final - 26 February 2023.