Bantams boss Stuart McCall admitted that Saturday's 1-0 home defeat to Plymouth Argyle was a tough pill to swallow for City.
Jake Jervis' goal ten minutes from the break, coupled with some resolute defending from the visitors, proved enough to hand Plymouth an unlikely victory at the Northern Commercials Stadium.
Against the league's bottom side, McCall's men dominated virtually from start to finish but they were unable to break down Plymouth's packed defensive ranks.
The Bantams twice hit the crossbar during their frustrating encounter with the Pilgrims - once through Paul Taylor late on in the first period and then again via Jake Reeves after the break.
With the Bantams knocking on the door, City squandered a great chance to set up a grand-stand finish when Tony McMahon saw his 78th minute penalty saved by Plymouth 'keeper Remi Matthews.
McCall said: "We are hugely disappointed with the way we gave away their goal.
"It gave them something to hang on to. That was always going to be important with the way they set up.
"The first goal in a match like this was key. If we get it, they can't sit in and they have to come out and attack.
"Even though we've conceded first, I still felt we would get chances to get back into the game.
"We did, especially in the second half, we just couldn't take them.
"We lacked enough quality with our final pass in the first period but I thought our play was better in the second half.
"We've hit the bar, put crosses in, had chances in the box, and had a penalty saved.
"They have defended for their lives.
"You take a look at their entire back four - they are all 6 foot plus.
"That is why we didn't start with GillyAlex Gilliead) this afternoon.
"Watching them before today's game, they seem to relish defending those balls into the box.
"We thought we would have more joy getting down the sides of them and getting the full backs pushed up.
"We've put some good deliveries in the second half when we've brought Gilly and Tyrell (Robinson) on but they have got their head onto them and defended their box well.
"It is a hugely frustrating and disappointing one to take.
"We always still believed we would get something from the game - even right up until the very end - but it just wasn't to be.
"This is clearly a sore one to take - losing at home to a side bottom of the league - but we have to re-group.
"We cannot feel sorry for ourselves. We have to be up and at it again come Monday morning."
City were given some hope late in the contest when Romain Vincelot was adjudged to have been pulled back in the box as he looked to connect with a Nicky Law cross.
McMahon would go onto to see his spot-kick well-saved by Matthews, however, as Plymouth continued to keep the Bantams at bay.
McCall said: "Macca (Tony McMahon) has scored every penalty he's taken previously since I've been here.
"Everyone knows which way he usually goes, but he is that confident normally from twelve yards that he feels he will score if he strikes it well enough.
"Goalkeepers do their homework, however, and the law of averages suggest that Tony will miss one eventually.
"Unfortunately that time was today."