City began their Sky Bet League Two campaign with a goalless draw against Colchester United - in a hard-fought encounter at the Utilita Energy Stadium.
The Bantams continued their unbeaten start to the 2020/21 season against last year’s Sky Bet League Two Play-Off Semi-Finalists.
The hosts came close to opening the scoring within 10 minutes after a bright start to the game.
Dylan Mottley-Henry burst into the Colchester box and squared the ball for Lee Novak who had two efforts cleared off the line.
Minutes later, the City forwards combined well as Kurtis Guthrie’s whipped cross found the head of Lee Novak - though the attempt sailed well over the visitors' crossbar.
At the other end, Jevani Brown did brilliantly to get past two City defenders and set up Kwame Poku, though Richard O’Donnell matched the effort with a smart save down to his right.
Just before the interval, Kurtis Guthrie rose well in the box to get on the end of a whipped cross, but his cushioned header lacked the power to trouble Dean Gerken.
The visitors had the ball in the back of the City net after Luke Gambin finished well from inside the box - though the flag was raised by the assistant referee for offside.
On the hour mark, it was City’s turn to think they had scored - only for it to be dismissed again.
A brilliantly-worked move ended with Clayton Donaldson squaring for Lee Novak who made no mistake from six yards out - but the linesman's flag was raised for offside.
Young defender Reece Staunton had the final opportunity of the afternoon after being teed up to shoot from a dangerous free-kick - though the defender could hit the target from the edge of the area, and goalless it finished.
CITY: Richard O’Donnell (c); Paudie O’Connor, Anthony O’Connor, Reece Staunton (Booked 18’); Dylan Mottley-Henry (Zeli Ismail 73’), Callum Cooke (Harry Pritchard 78’), Elliot Watt, Billy Clarke, Connor Wood; Lee Novak, Kurtis Guthrie (Clayton Donaldson 74’). Subs (not used): Sam Hornby, Jackson Longridge, Ben Richards-Everton, Tyler French.
COLCHESTER: Dean Gerken, Myles Welch-Hayes, Tommy Smith, Tom Eastman, Cohen Brammall, Ben Stevenson, Harry Pell, Noah Chilvers (Marley Marshall 90’), Kwame Poku (Paris Cowan-Hall 85’), Luke Gambin (Courtney Senior 67’); Jevani Brown. Subs (not used): Shamal George, Omar Sowunmi, Miguel Scarlett, Samson Tovide.
REFEREE: Ross Joyce