A clinical City side returned to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over Southend United.
First-half goals from Callum Cooke, Elliot Watt and Harry Pritchard sent the Bantams in 3-0 up at the half-time break, after a dominant opening 45 minutes.
City got off to the perfect start, opening the scoring in the fifth minute through Callum Cooke.
Under pressure from Southend defenders, the midfielder twisted and turned inside the box before shooting and finding the bottom corner with his left foot.
The hosts continued to pile on the pressure and came close to doubling their lead in the 21st minute - but Harry Pritchard’s glancing header was saved by Mark Oxley in the Southend goal.
The Bantams had the ball in the net five minutes later through Elliot Watt after a neat move, but the linesman raised his flag for offside against Bryce Hosannah.
James Olayinka almost drew level for the visitors just before the half-hour mark after bursting through the Bantams defence - though the on-loan Arsenal man shot wide when one-one-one with Richard O’Donnell.
City doubled their lead in the 33rd minute through midfielder Elliot Watt - who calmly converted from eighteen yards.
Billy Clarke found Clayton Donaldson with a perfectly-placed pass over the Southend defence. The towering frontman then pulled it back to Watt who calmly converted into the bottom-left corner.
The Bantams made it three just before the half-time break, after Harry Pritchard headed home Billy Clarke’s in-swinging free kick.
Clayton Donaldson almost got in on the act in the 65th minute - but was denied by a fine-low save by Mark Oxley.
After an enthralling encounter, the referee blew the full-time whistle to hand Stuart McCall's side a convincing victory.
CITY: Richard O’Donnell ©; Bryce Hosannah, Anthony O’Connor, Paudie O’Connor, Reece Staunton, Connor Wood; Elliot Watt (Finn Cousin-Dawson 90’), Callum Cooke, Harry Pritchard; Billy Clarke, Clayton Donaldson (Dylan Mottley-Henry 78’). Subs (not used): Sam Hornby, Ben Richards-Everton, Austin Samuels, Tyler French, Kian Scales.
GOALS: Callum Cooke (5’), Elliot Watt (33’), Harry Pritchard (43’).
SOUTHEND: Mark Oxley; Elvis Bwomono, Shaun Hobson, Harry Lennon, Tom Clifford; James Olayinka, Timothee Dieng, Jason Demetriou ©, Ashley Nathaniel-George (Matt Rush 83’), Emile Acquah (Kazaiah Sterling 90’); Brandon Goodship (Terrell Egbri 83’). Subs (not used): Harry Seaden, Harry Phillips.
GOALS: None.
REFEREE: Marc Edwards (Tyne and Wear).