Mark Hughes' brave Bantams bowed out of the Carabao Cup with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Sky Bet Championship side Blackburn Rovers.
Andy Cook gave City hope of progressing to the third round when he bagged his sixth goal of the season, but Rovers came from behind to win a rousing second-round clash at the University of Bradford Stadium.
The visitors found the net through Bradley Dack and Dilan Markanday and then managed to hold out in the second half.
Dack looked sharp from the off, with a chipped cross to Joe Rankin-Costello, whose header forced man of the match Harry Lewis into an impressive save.
Up the other end, City broke the deadlock in the 18th minute, through Cook's third in two League Cup appearances.
Scott Banks was the creator, playing a ball in from the right flank and Cook found the back of the net, to continue his fine goal-scoring form.
The Bantams almost doubled their lead shortly after, as Kian Harratt latched onto another Banks ball but saw his glancing effort come back off the woodwork.
Blackburn then capitalised, as Tyrhys Dolan raced in behind and played a pass in for Dack to finish, drawing the visitors level just after the half-hour mark.
With six minutes until the break, Blackburn took the lead. Jack Vale made a run into the box and provided the assist for Markanday, who slid the ball under Lewis in the City goal.
Rovers continued to push in the second half, with Dolan working his way through to test Lewis and later seeing another effort go just wide of the post.
Vadaine Oliver was introduced to the field as City looked to draw level, with Liam Ridehalgh putting a cross within inches of the big man.
The Bantams had another opportunity late on, as calls for a penalty were waved away when Romoney Crichlow went to ground.
Rovers closed out the remainder of the contest to ensure their progression in the competition, while City’s focus now returns to Sky Bet League Two with Saturday's visit of Crewe Alexandra.
CITY: Harry Lewis, Brad Halliday, Liam Ridehalgh, Matty Platt, Richie Smallwood (C) (Yann Songo’o 82’), Andy Cook (Vadaine Oliver 70’), Alex Gilliead (Lee Angol 70’), Scott Banks (Ryan East 74’), Harry Chapman (Jake Young 82’), Kian Harratt, Romoney Crichlow. Subs (not used): Colin Doyle, Matty Foulds, Luke Hendrie, Levi Sutton.
GOALS: Cook (18’).
ROVERS: Aynsley Pears, Tyler Morton, Tayo Edun, Tyrhys Dolan (Sam Gallagher 90+2'), Joe Rankin-Costello (booked 90’), Dillan Markanday (Ashley Phillips 75’), Bradley Dack (Ben Brereton Diaz 75’), Jack Vale (Sammie Szmodics 79’), Jake Garrett (John Buckley 79’), Adam Wharton, Louie Annesley Subs (not used): Thomas Kaminski, Jake Batty, Callum Brittain, Jared Harlock.
GOALS: Dack (31’), Markanday (39’).
ATTENDANCE: 7,821 (1,505 Blackburn supporters).
REFEREE: Ross Joyce (Cleveland).