City were comprehensively beaten 3-0 away to Mansfield Town in their second away fixture of the week.
A difficult afternoon for Gary Bowyer's men saw them two goals down at half-time, before the hosts wrapped up the points late on.
The Bantams began the affair slowly and were behind with just seven minutes on the clock.
Home debutant Joe Riley swung a ball in from the right and Danny Rose had the beating of Anthony O’Connor in the air to head past Luke McGee.
As the home side piled more pressure on, their lead was doubled two minutes before half-time.
Mal Benning’s corner was headed back across goal by the dangerous Rose for Nicky Maynard to guide in a second.
Graham Coughlan's side then completed the scoring with 13 minutes remaining, courtesy of substitute Andy Cook.
The frontman was allowed to turn on the edge of the area before directing an accurate effort into the far bottom corner.
While still in the Sky Bet League Two play-off positions, Bowyer's side will look to bounce back at home to Cheltenham Town on Tuesday (7.45pm).
CITY: Luke McGee; Adam Henley (Clayton Donaldson 76'), Anthony O’Connor, Ben Richards-Everton, Connor Wood; Dylan Connolly, Jake Reeves (c, booked 22’, Jamie Devitt 57’), Chris Taylor, Harry Pritchard (Kelvin Mellor 57’); Shay McCartan (booked 40’), Eoin Doyle. Subs (not used): George Sykes-Kenworthy (GK), Paudie O’Connor, Callum Cooke, Aramide Oteh.
MANSFIELD: Bobby Olejnik; Joe Riley, Krystian Pearce (c), Ryan Sweeney, Mal Benning (booked 89'); Alex MacDonald, Neal Bishop, Harry Charsley (Will Tomlinson 84'), CJ Hamilton; Nicky Maynard (Andy Cook 73'), Danny Rose (Jimmy Knowles 73'). Subs (not used): Aidan Stone (GK), Matt Preston, Otis Khan, James Clarke.
GOALS: Rose (7’), Maynard (43’), Cook (77').
ATTENDANCE: 5,537 (1,467 visitors).
REFEREE: Will Finnie.