Michael Laudrup's classy Swansea City proved to be a bridge too far for Phil Parkinson's Bantams to overcome as they were deservedly beaten in convincing fashion by the Premier League side in the Capital One Cup Final.
With the international class Swansea could call upon from within their squad, City's task of bringing home the cup was always going to be an extremely tough one, and unfortunately so it proved as the final sadly went to script.
Backed by over 32,000 passionate City supporters on the day, Parkinson's men entered the pitch at Wembley Stadium to an unforgettable atmosphere, but their Welsh opponents quickly set about establishing their dominance on proceedings once the game got underway.
First half goals from Man of the Match Nathan Dyer and Michu gave the Swans a two-goal half-time lead before Dyer added his second shortly after the interval to leave City with it all to do.
The Bantams' task was made an almost impossible one just before the hour mark when a penalty was awarded to Swansea and Matt Duke was dismissed after the 'keeper was adjudged to have tripped Jonathan De Guzman as the midfielder went to tap home a Michu cross.
With substitute shot-stopper Jon McLaughlin now in net, De Guzman took responsibility for the kick himself and coolly slotted Swansea into a four-goal lead.
At four goals down and a man down with over half an hour still to play, lesser teams and lesser clubs may have buckled against such rampant opponents.
To the massive credit of Parkinson's side and their tremendous support, City, who continued to be backed vocally by their fans right until the final whistle, kept going to the very end to keep some respectability in the scoreline.
Swansea did grab a fifth in injury time when De Guzman converted a cut back from Angel Rangel at the near post but not even a heavy defeat for City could take away what an unbelievable achievement it has been for the club to even get to today's final.
FT: Bradford City 0 Swansea City 5
90+1min: GOAL - Bradford City 0 Swansea City 5 - The Swans do have a fifth when De Guzman converts Rangel's low cross at the near post.
90+1min: Swansea come close to a fifth when Michu is denied from almost point blank range by a fine reaction save from McLaughlin. The ball eventually works its way out to Tiendalli, who strikes the bar with a curling effort from just inside the area.
90min: There will be three minutes of time added on at the end of the match.
87min: A long ball pumped into Swansea's area eventually drops out to Gary Jones but his volleyed effort from around 20 yards out lacks to power to trouble Gerard Tremmel, who gathers easily.
84min: SUB - Swansea have now brought on Dwight Tiendalli for Davies.
78min: SUB - Swansea choose to bring on Roland Lamah for Dyer.
74min: SUB - Zavon Hines comes on for Garry Thompson for the Bantams.
70min: Ashley Williams gets his knee onto a Hernandez cross following a quickly-taken Swansea corner but the effort on goal is simple enough for McLaughlin to pounce on.
67min: Rory McArdle makes a vital block in the middle to prevent Michu's close range goal-bound from troubling McLaughlin following Rangel's cut-back.
63min: SUB - Swansea bring on Garry Monk for Sung-Yueng.
61min: Following a one-two with Dyer, Michu fires narrowly wide of McLaughlin's goal with a low side-footed effort.
59min: GOAL - Bradford City 0 Swansea City 4 - De Guzman takes the penalty himself and fires the spot-kick into the corner of the goal.
58min: SUB - City bring on Jon McLaughlin for Wells to give City a 'keeper once again following Duke's dismissal.
56min: PENALTY TO SWANSEA - RED CARD: Swansea are awarded a penalty when Duke trips Jonathan De Guzman as the midfielder looks to tap home following Michu's centre across the box. Duke is sent off as a result.
48min: Bradford City 0 Swansea City 3 - A nightmare start to the second half for City as Dyer grabs his second of the match and Swansea's third of the afternoon. After travelling forward with menace on the ball, Dyer plays a one-two with Routledge before cutting inside of McHugh and drilling a strike past a helpless Duke from within City's penalty box.
46min: The Bantams restart the final.
HT SUB - City bring on Andrew Davies for Good. McHugh will move to left back as a result.
HT: Bradford City 0 Swansea City 2
45min: There will be one minute of time added on at the end of the first half.
44min: Following a half-cleared Swansea corner, Hernandez picks up the ball and takes aim from outside the area. His effort is on target but fails to overly-trouble Duke, who gathers with relative ease.
43min: Wayne Routledge holds off Carl McHugh to latch onto a Pablo Hernandez pass and find himself with a clear sight of goal. Routledge fires forwards with a rising drive but Duke is able to tip over at his near post.
42min: Dyer beats City's offside trap and the on-rushing Duke to a forward pass but his momentum takes him wide of City's unguarded goal and Phil Parkinson's men can eventually clear their lines.
40min: GOAL - Bradford City 0 Swansea City 2 - Swansea top scorer Michu doubles his side's lead to leave City with it all to do now. After being played into space by Britton, Michu fires a low angled effort into the far corner of City's goal from just inside the area.
38min: YELLOW CARD - Ki Sung-Yueng is booked for catching Nahki Wells from behind just inside Swansea's half.
31min: A half-cleared Swansea corner falls into the path of the lurking Leon Britton but his drive from outside the area flies well wide of Duke's goal.
16min: GOAL - Bradford City 0 Swansea City 1 - City fall behind thanks to a close range tap in from Nathan Dyer. Duke does well to get a hand on a low angled drive from Michu but Dyer justs beats Curtis Good to the rebound to prod the ball home from a tight angle.
14min: The first close scoring opportunity of the final goes to Swansea when Ben Davies sends a header across goal and just past Matt Duke's goal-frame following Angel Rangel's clipped ball into the box.
0min: Swansea kick off the final.
3:55pm: City's players, complete with their special fire memorial walk-out tops, line up before being presented to the special match guest Fabrice Muamba.
3:54pm: Wow! What an atmosphere! It doesn't get any better than this! City and Swansea enter the field to a wonderful wall of noise at a packed Wembley Stadium. It's almost time for kick off!