Mark Hughes’ Bantams returned to winning ways in Sky Bet League Two with an impressive 1-0 victory over Salford City at the Peninsula Stadium.
Andy Cook's 13th goal of the season in the 13th minute was enough to secure a fourth-straight away win for the Bantams, and a first at Salford.
Sporting their all-new alternative strip for the first time, City began on top, creating opportunities and hassling their hosts when not in possession.
Harry Chapman’s ball found former Ammie Tyreik Wright in space, but Salford stopper Tom King did well to thwart City’s No.32.
After Cook and Chapman had dragged further efforts wide of the post, City made their pressure pay shortly before the quarter-hour mark.
Romoney Crichlow reacted quickest to a loose ball high up the field to slot in Cook, who beat the offside trap and proved kept his composure under pressure from the onrushing King, tucking the ball home.
Minutes later, Salford thought they had an equaliser. Callum Hendry met Ibou Touray’s cross from the left hand-side but his clever flick was tipped onto the crossbar excellently by Harry Lewis.
Hughes’ side were forced to defend further as Salford committed bodies forward in search for an equaliser, just before half-time.
Odin Bailey’s corner found defender Ryan Leak at the far post but City managed to hook it clear.
The visitors, with full backing from over 1,300 travelling Bantams, started the second period as they did the first, on the front foot.
Wright’s darting run into Salford’s area was closed down by King, as the ball fell perfectly for Cook whose right-footed strike was deflected behind for a corner.
City’s sustained pressure resulted in more chances, as they continued to knock on the door for a second.
Chapman had the Bantams' best opportunity of the second period, as he took on three Salford defenders but saw his shot blocked by Leak at the last second.
The Ammies again found their feet in the second half and began piling on pressure in their attempts to draw level, threatening down the left-hand side through Odin Bailey and Ryan Watson.
With an almost 4,000 capacity crowd - the highest seen at Moor Lane in Sky Bet League Two - it was the Bantams who looked in control of the game defensively.
Bailey again found space to manoeuvre on the left but was closed down well by Brad Halliday and substitute Levi Sutton. Touray’s cross moments later was safely caught by Harry Lewis, as the visitors saw out the Salford pressure late on.
City almost had a opportunity to double their lead in the closing stages as Chapman’s chip could not find its way over Tom King, after Smallwood had won the ball back and slipped him in.
The Bantams clung on to secure the three points which see Hughes’ side move back up to fifth in Sky Bet League Two.
SALFORD: Tom King, Ibou Touray, Ash Eastham (Matt Smith 83’), Elliot Watt, Ryan Watson (Elliot Simoes 81’), Callum Hendry, Odin Bailey, Ethan Galbraith (booked 18’, Luke Bolton, Ryan Leak, Theo Vassell. Subs not used: Jacob Chapman, Matthew Lund, Lorent Tolaj, Jack Jenkins, Josh O’Brien.
CITY: Lewis, Halliday, Platt, Smallwood, Cook (Lee Angol 77’, booked 89’), Foulds, East (Yann Songo’o 81’), Chapman (Vadaine Oliver 90’), Crichlow, Pereira (Levi Sutton 77’), Wright. Subs not used: Doyle, Songo’o, Odusina, Oliver, Young.
GOALS: Cook (13’).
ATTENDANCE: 3,924 (1,341 City supporters).