<text>  Last January, former Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert slammed the FA Cup as a distraction claiming that most Premier League managers would prefer to avoid the grand old competition. Phil Parkinson of League One Bradford City would probably be inclined to disagree. On Monday night, the Valley Parade side will kick off their 37th cup tie in the last four seasons when they travel to Reading for an FA Cup quarter-final replay. Phil Parkinson has had terrific success in cup competitions with Bradford City in the last four years . Since taking over in August 2011, Parkinson has led his side to an average extra 10 games each campaign as Bradford have reached the Capital One Cup final and enjoyed lengthy runs in the Johnstones Paint Trophy and FA Cup. These exploits have seen them play 37 cup ties on top of their four 46-game league campaigns during Parkinsons tenure almost an additional Premier League seasons worth of fixtures. Bradford have vanquished no fewer than five top-flight sides Wigan, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Sunderland beaten 14 higher-division teams and won 21, drawn four and lost just 11 ties in total. They also have a 100-per-cent record in penalty shootouts under Parkinson, winning all seven they have contested. Bradford reached the Capital One Cup final in 2013 where they were beaten by Swansea City . And far from sidelining their progress in the league, this rich experience of knockout football helped Bradford win promotion to League One via the play-offs in 2013. Their victory over Northampton at Wembley was their second visit to the national stadium that year after Capital One Cup final defeat to Swansea, and was their 64th game in all competitions. Even if they cant secure a third trip down Wembley Way at the Madjeski Stadium, Bradford are still firmly in the hunt for promotion to the Championship sitting just three points off sixth place with a game in hand. Perhaps the league and cup can be mutually beneficial after all... The cup pedigree helped Parkinson will promotion with Bradford via the playoffs, reaching League One . 2011-12 7 - 18th in League Two . JPT round 1: Sheffield Wednesday League One h D0-0 won 3-1 on penalties JPT round 2: Huddersfield League One a D2-2 won 4-2 on penalties JPT area quarter-final: Sheffield United League One a D1-1 won 6-5 on penalties FA Cup round 1: Rochdale League One h W1-0 . FA Cup round 2: AFC Wimbledon League Two h W3-1 . JPT area semi-final: Oldham League One a L0-2 . FA Cup round 3: Watford Championship a L2-4 . 2012-13 18 - 7th in League Two promoted via play-offs League Cup round 1: Notts County League One a W1-0 aet LC round 2: Watford Championship a W2-1 . LC round 3: Burton League Two h W3-2 aet JPT round 2: Hartlepool League One a D0-0 won 3-2 on penalties . LC round 4: Wigan Premier League a D0-0 won 4-2 on penalties FA Cup round 1: Northampton League Two a D1-1 . FA Cup r1 replay: Northampton League Two h D3-3 won 4-2 on penalties FA Cup round 2: Brentford League One a D1-1 . JPT area quarter-final: Port Vale League Two a W2-0 . LC quarter-final: Arsenal Premier League h D1-1 won 3-2 on penalties FA Cup r2 replay: Brentford League One h L2-4 . LC semi-final first leg: Aston Villa Premier League h W3-1 . JPT area semi-final: Crewe League One a L1-4 . LC semi-final second leg: Aston Villa Premier League a L1-2 . LC final: Swansea Premier League n L0-5 . League Two play-off semi-final first leg: Burton h L2-3 . League Two play-off semi-final second leg: Burton a W3-1 . League Two play-off final: Northampton n W3-0 Bradford had a first-round bye . 2013-14 3 - 11th in League One . LC round 1: Huddersfield Championship a L1-2 . JPT round 1: Hartlepool League Two a L0-5 . FA Cup round 1: Rotherham League One a L0-3 . 2014-15 12 - currently 9th in League One . LC round 1: Morecambe League Two a W1-0 . LC round 2: Leeds Championship h W2-1 . JPT round 1: Oldham League One a L0-1 . LC round 3: MK Dons League One a L0-2 . FA Cup round 1: Halifax Conference a W2-1 . FA Cup round 2: Dartford Conference h W4-1 . FA Cup round 3: Millwall Championship a D3-3 . FA Cup r3 replay: Millwall Championship h W4-0 . FA Cup round 4: Chelsea Premier League a W4-2 . FA Cup round 5: Sunderland Premier League h W2-0 . FA Cup round 6: Reading Championship h D0-0 . FA Cup r6 replay: Reading Championship a 