David Hopkin emphasised “new standards set” following City’s narrow loss to league-leading Portsmouth on Saturday.
Portsmouth took an early lead but the Bantams had several chances to take something from the game.
Although frustrated, Hopkin took positives from Saturday’s Sky Bet League One outing.
He said: “The application from the players was great. I asked for desire from the back four and I think we saw that from the start.
“We conceded a soft goal, which is disappointing, but after that we were the better team for most of the game.
“They had one chance in the first half and one again in the second. From there, we had five or six really good chances but didn’t take them.
“There were big chances we missed at the end but there are a lot of positives to take from the game. Even when we went a goal down, we didn’t crumble - and that’s a good thing.
“We were overall disappointed but those are the standards we have set and that is the commitment we need every week.”
Adam Chicksen returned to the City line-up following a spell on the sidelines but was sent off after receiving a second yellow card after 82 minutes.
Hopkin was pleased to see the defender back in Bantams action, though disputed his dismissal.
He added: “I think the sending off was harsh but when you trip somebody who is a little quicker than you and they go to ground, you are always giving the referee that option.
“He was devastated after the game but I thought he played really well for someone who hasn’t been out there for 10 weeks.”
City return to action on Saturday, taking on Aldershot in the first round of the Emirates FA Cup.
Chicksen will miss the fixture as a result of receiving an automatic one-match suspension.