The Bantams fell to defeat at Boundary Park, losing 2-0 to in-form Oldham Athletic.
Two first-half goals from Hallam Hope and Davis Keillor-Dunn secured the victory for the home side, in a game where City had Paudie O'Connor sent off and a Tom Elliot goal controversially ruled out.
Oldham had the first chance of the game when Keillor-Dunn had space to shoot, forcing Alex Bass into a save.
However, it did not take long for City to get their first chance in response. Levi Sutton drove forward with the ball, laying it off to Alex Gilliead wide who was able to pick out Nathan Delfouneso, but he could not direct his header on target.
It was the home side who took the lead in the 19th minute when Hope headed home from a corner.
Four minutes later, Oldham doubled their advantage with another headed, goal but this time from Keillor-Dunn. Two strikes in quick succession left City with it all to do before the interval.
The Bantams almost pulled one back before the break when Sutton played through Andy Cook, but Danny Rogers was able to make the save at his near post after City's No.9 was played wide.
City had the first chance of the second half when Yann Songo’o shaved the crossbar with an effort on swivel from a tight angle, after Callum Cooke had swung a free-kick into the area.
The Bantams continued to push forward in their hunt for a way back into the game, though their job was made more difficult in the 71st minute when Paudie O’Connnor was sent off following an altercation with Nicky Adams.
Ten minutes later, City thought they had pulled one back when Tom Elliott headed in from a corner.
However, following conversations with his assistant, and having initially allowed the goal to stand, the referee decided to chalk it off.
Elliot came close again just minutes later when his strike forced Rogers into a good save, but City proved unable to get themselves onto the scoresheet, and left with nothing.
OLDHAM: Danny Rogers; Jordan Clarke, Sam Hart, Harrison McGahey, Carl Piergianni (c), Nicky Adams, Callum Whelan, Hallam Hope (Tope Obadyei 79’), Davis Keillor-Dunn, Jack Stobbs (Harry Vaughan 86’), Christopher Missilou (Alex Hunt 89’). SUBS (not used): Jayson Leutwiler, Dylan Fage, Raphael Diarra, Benny Couto.
GOALS: Hallam Hope (19’), David Keillor-Dunn (24’).
CITY: Alex Bass; Reece Staunton (Finn Cousin-Dawson 43’), Paudie O’Connor (c) (red card 71’), Yann Songo’o, Luke Hendrie; Elliot Watt (booked 47’), Levi Sutton; Alex Gilliead, Callum Cooke (Tom Elliott 53’), Nathan Delfouneso, Andy Cook (Theo Robinson 83’). SUBS (not used): Richard O’Donnell, Fiacre Kelleher, Gareth Evans, Matty Daly.
REFEREE: Anthony Blackhouse.
ATTENDANCE: 7,716 (1,985 City fans).