City were made to settle for a point in their opening match of the new season, following a goalless draw at home to Cambridge United.
Contested in front of a Sky Bet League Two opening day-record crowd of 14,810, Gary Bowyer’s men were unable to make their dominance pay against the visitors’ resolute backline.
After a tight and cagey openeing, the Bantams went within inches of breaking the deadlock 25 minutes in through James Vaughan.
Jordan Gibson played a perfectly-weighted ball in behind for the home skipper, whose audacious acrobatic volley clipped the top of the crossbar.
City were handed an advantage just after the hour mark when U’s midfielder Liam O’Neil was shown the red card by referee Ollie Yates - for a late challenge on Clayton Donaldson.
The hosts went close as the clock ticked down, through a couple of efforts from substitute Danny Devine which both whistled past the post.
However, the away defence remained resilient to deny City an opening day victory.
CITY: Richard O’Donnell; Kelvin Mellor (booked 82’), Anthony O’Connor, Ben Richards-Everton, Adam Henley (Jackson Longridge 80’); Jordan Gibson, Matt Palmer, Jermaine Anderson (Danny Devine 63’); Eoin Doyle (Sean Scannell 76’); James Vaughan (c) (booked 74’), Clayton Donaldson (booked 88’). SUBS (not used): Sam Hornby (GK), Tyler French, Connor Wood, Luca Colville.
CAMBRIDGE: Dimitar Bitov; Kyle Knoyle, Greg Taylor (c), George Taft, Dan Jones (Harrison Dunk 68’); Luke Hannant, Liam O’Neil (sent off 61’), Paul Lewis, Reggie Lambe (George Maris 68’); Andrew Dallas (Sam Smith 63’), Jabo Ibehre. SUBS (not used): Callum Burton (GK), Harry Darling, Leon Davies, Tom Knowles.
ATTENDANCE: 14,810.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Kelvin Mellor.
REFEREE: Ollie Yates (Staffordshire).