The Bantams bowed out of the Emirates FA Cup with a 2-1 defeat to Sky Bet League One side Wycombe Wanderers at the University of Bradford Stadium.
City went two goals down in the first half after Killian Phillips and a Sam Stubbs own goal put the Chairboys in the driving seat.
A Jamie Walker goal in the second half gave home supporters hope, but after a spirited performance Mark Trueman's side, they exited at the first-round stage.
Although up against a higher-tier side, it was City who started the brighter. They saw a lot of the ball early on, mostly inside Wycombe’s half of the pitch. Both Emmanuel Osadebe and Walker saw efforts just wide of the post inside the first 10 minutes.
Wycombe saw their first sight of goal in the 12th minute. A low cross into the box was put goalwards by Kieran Sadlier, but Harry Lewis was equal to it and managed to get his body in the way of the close-range effort.
The Chairboys would take the lead through Phillips five minutes later, however, as he found the back of the net with a good finish to Lewis’ right in the 17th minute, from inside the area.
Wycombe were looking dangerous in attack by this stage, and went into the break 2-0 up after a defensive mix-up saw Sam Stubbs head a cross from the right into his own net.
Just like the first half, City saw a lot of the ball in the opening stages of the second period, in the attempts to get back inton the game.
Just after the hour mark, City thought they had scored. Andy Cook got onto the end of a brilliant Brad Halliday cross, but Max Stryjek did brilliantly to get in the way of the shot.
All the pressure from City paid off in the 67th minute as they halved the deficit through Walker. The ball fell to the feet of the Scotsman who hit a first-time volley home from inside the area, with the aid of a deflection.
The Bantams threw bodies forward in search of an equaliser, with substitute Tyler Smith also going close. Their last throw of the dice came in in stoppage time, when Harry Lewis rushed up for a free-kick which was swung into the area.
The hosts remained firm and withstood the Bantams pressure to seal their passge through to round two.
CITY: Harry Lewis, Brad Halliday, Liam Ridehalgh, Ash Taylor, Richie Smallwood (C), Jamie Walker, Emmanuel Osadebe (Tyler Smith 57’), Andy Cook, Alex Gilliead (Adam Wilson 80’), Sam Stubbs, Bobby Pointon (Harry Chapman 80’). SUBS NOT USED: Colin Doyle, Clarke Oduor, Ciarán Kelly, Daniel Oyegoke, Kevin McDonald, Lewis Richards.
GOALS: Walker (67’).
WYCOMBE: Max Stryjek, Ryan Tafazolli, David Wheeler, Luke Leahy (C), Harry Boyes, Joe Low, Freddie Potts (Brandon Hanlan 46’), Dale Taylor (Tjay De Barr 76’), Killian Phillips, Kieran Sadlier (Richard Keogh 64’), Jasper Pattenden. SUBS NOT USED: Franco Ravizzoli, Kian Breckin, Garath McCleary, Taylor Clark.
GOALS: Phillips (17’), Stubbs (34’, OG).
ATTENDANCE: 3,642 (with 249 travelling Wycombe supporters).
