Mark Hughes’ Bantams fell to a slender 1-0 loss against Swindon Town, to condemn them to their first defeat in 12 games in Sky Bet League Two.
After a fairly balanced first half, City were on top for the majority of the second as Scott Banks and Andy Cook had chances to break the deadlock.
However, Remeao Hutton’s pinpoint cross for Jonny Williams stole the points for the Robins late on, seeing City lose on the road for the first time in 2023.
Both sides chased the game early on. Luke Jephcott watched his glancing header bounce wide, moments before Cook had a powerful right-footed effort crucially blocked by Tom Clayton.
City began to get comfortable just after the 15-minute mark. Jamie Walker watched his thunderous shot almost spill into the net, as Sol Brynn just managed to keep a glove on the Scot’s effort.
The Bantams’ No.10, who proved a nuisance throughout the first half, went close just after the half-hour mark, as his curled effort from 20 yards almost bent into the bottom-left corner, but whistled narrowly wide.
City came flying out of the traps at the beginning of the second period. Banks, after receiving the ball from Cook, rifled a shot goalwards, but Brewitt vitally hooked his effort off the line.
Spurned on by an ever-loud away end, City continued to pressure the Robins, as Banks, once again, tested the hosts' goal, but his left-footed curler was held by Brynn.
Though the Bantams were in the ascendancy, Jody Morris’ side almost caught out the visitors, as a low, driven cross to Jephcott allowed the No.15 to swivel, and shoot, but Harry Lewis was alert to impressively stop the striker.
Matt Derbyshire and Emmanuel Osadebe were introduced with 15 minutes remaining, and the latter came close to providing a late winner, as his deep cross connected with Cook, but City's leading goalscorer failed to direct his header on target.
It was a header that decided the encounter for the hosts - with eight minutes on the clock. Hutton’s delivery found Williams at the back post, who bolted his effort in from six yards to give the Robins the all-important advantage with little time remaining.
Hughes’ Bantams threw everything at Swindon in the final five minutes, and the additional seven of stoppage time, but were unable to find a breakthrough, as the Bantams’ 11-game unbeaten streak ended in Wiltshire.
SWINDON: Sol Brynn, Remeao Hutton, Tom Clayton, Jonny Williams, Tom Brewitt, Luke Jephcott (Charlie Austin 86’), Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, Frazer Blake-Tracy (C), Dylan Kadji (Jake Cain 56’), Saidou Khan, Jacob Wakeling. Subs not used: Conor Brann, Ronan Darcy, Marcel Laviner, Tyrese Shade, Harrison Minturn.
GOALS: Jonny Williams (80’).
CITY: Harry Lewis, Liam Ridehalgh (Tolaji Bola 90'), Richie Smallwood (C), Andy Cook, Jamie Walker, Alex Gilliead, Scott Banks (Matt Derbyshire 72’), Luke Hendrie (Emmanuel Osadebe 72’), Harry Chapman (Thierry Nevers 33’), Romoney Crichlow, Sam Stubbs. Subs not used: Colin Doyle, Matty Platt, Ryan East.
ATTENDANCE: 7,413 (557 travelling Bantams).