THE ironic chant may state that “it’s only a cup” but this feels real now after City reached the League Cup last eight for only the fifth time.

After the history makers of 2013, is it time for the history repeaters?

Robbie Savage’s Peterborough gave it a go but ultimately fell by the wayside on one of those special cup nights under the lights at BD8.

Two goals – one from a corner and then an overdue ice-breaker from Adam Phillips – were backed up by yet another clean sheet. Jon McCracken has now gone over 11 hours without conceding.

Michael Duff promised changes – but not “wholesale” ones – and switched two at each end from Saturday.

Reece Welch and Macaulay Gillesphey got their first starts at the back since the Jersey Mike’s Trophy win at Rotherham on the day the manager was unveiled. Matt Pennington shifted across into the middle.

Jake Beesley and Bobby Pointon were restored in attack after spending the Oxford game unused on the bench.

Interestingly, Antoni Sarcevic made up the front three as Duff restored the skipper to the right-sided 10 where he had been a fixture before being switched to a central role in the summer.

Sarcevic swapped roles with George Lapslie, who partnered Callum Connolly in the middle.

Peterborough, like City, had scored just 10 in the league – but conceded 16 more than the iron-clad Bantams backline.

“Savage ball” promised a much more attacking format than the meek effort they had put up under predecessor Luke Williams on their previous visit in August.

The visitors started on the front foot and former City loanee Brandon Khela thudded a drive wide from an early corner.

Beesley forced a home corner but Sarcevic had his pocket picked by Vernon Masara and he tried to pull the trigger.

George Lapslie was one of five first-half bookings for City (Image: Thomas Gadd)

But Beesley then won another – and City profited handsomely with a 13th-minute opener. Keeper Alex Bass got nowhere near Connolly’s in-swinging delivery and Gillesphey was at the far post to meet it with a side-foot volley from close range.

The same combination had opened the scoring from a set-piece in the win over Peterborough two months earlier.

Duff will have been delighted to see City cash in from a corner at last. And they almost did it again with a short routine to Corey O’Keeffe, whose ball into the box flew just beyond Beesley.

Pointon then charged towards the box where he lost the ball in a challenge – and was booked for protesting when the free-kick was given the other way.

Ref Thomas Kirk was flashing cards like a Las Vegas poker player and all in one direction. City had clocked up five bookings in the first 35 minutes – with Lapslie’s second of the competition ruling him out of the next round.

The official was looking a bigger threat to City than Peterborough and the Kop made their feelings very clear.

A flighted ball out of defence from Welch sprung the visitors open as Beesley burst clear. He squared for the supporting Pointon but the pass was just a little heavy, allowing Bass to make himself big to save.

Gillesphey then had the ball in the net again from another corner but the whistle had gone for offside.

City were pushing for a second before the break and Bass pushed away a fizzing effort from Ibou Touray. The half ended with a Peterborough break but Ethan Williams’ shot was charged down.

McCracken protected his shut-out streak with two big saves to start the second half.

He dived low to deny Owura Edwards at his near post and then spread himself to whip the ball off Masara’s toes as he went through one on one.

Macaulay Gillesphey volleys City ahead from a corner (Image: Thomas Gadd)

Peterborough’s tails were up and Williams’ shot deflected off Pennington and against the bar.

Duff had made four subs by the hour and Aden Baldwin’s long ball sent Phillips away but a heavy touch let him down. The same thing happened with Phillips barely a minute later to frustrated groans.

But redemption arrived when he won a loose ball, exchanged passes with Beesley and smashed into the roof of the net for third time lucky. The celebration was one of total relief.

Will Swan, a fifth addition, burst through but Bass got there just in time. The mood, though, was a joyous one behind the goal.

And Phillips was close to doubling his tally from another spell of pressure but Lucca Mendonca blocked his effort on the line.

There was just time for Connolly to rubber-stamp the shut-out at the other end as he slid across to thwart Bolu Shofowoke. Nothing was going to spoil City’s evening.