The Bantams endured a disappointing and fruitless trip to Torquay as they fell to their second away defeat of the new campaign.

City were helpless to stop Torquay from increasing their recent unbeaten league run to an amazing eleven matches with a deserved win

City's afternoon against the League 2 early table toppers was made all the more difficult by a nightmare start to the match.

Barely 90 seconds were on the clock when the dimunitive Danny Stevens was allowed to stride forward unchallenged from the half way line before beating Jon McLaughlin from around 20 yards out.

Worse was to follow for the Bantams when they were reduced to ten men and conceded a penalty less than ten minutes into the match.

Robbie Threlfall, who was recalled to the starting eleven, became City's first red card victim of the season when the left back was penalised for blocking Chris Zebroski's effort with his hand inside the area.

McLaughlin kept City in the match though as he saved Nicky Wroe's resulting spot kick.

The Bantams keeper was caught out, however, in the second period when his attempted clearance bounced off the on-rushing Zebroski and into his net for Torquay's second of the match.

James Hanson was twice denied by wonderful stops from home keeper Scott Bevan as the home side also recorded their 10th league clean sheet on the trot.

For the Bantams trip to Plainmoor, Peter Taylor made two changes to the side that narrowly defeated Stevenage seven days ago.

Along with the return of Threlfall, Louis Moult was handed his first start since his summer loan move from Stoke City.

Heading into a match against one of the league's form sides, the Bantams always knew a good start would be important. Unfortunately they got the complete opposite.

Picking up the ball inside his own half, Stevens skipped away from the attentions of Tommy Doherty and strode for the Bantams area.

As City's defence backed away, Stevens unleashed a low stinging drive from outside the area that appeared to catch out McLaughlin.

The shot found the bottom corner to hand Torquay a dream start with the Bantams keeper rooted to the spot.

The early blow stunned the Bantams as yellow shirts poured forward trying to inflict further damage on City.

City were still coming to terms with the home side's early goal when they were pushed further into the mire.

A long ball over the top from Wroe saw Zebroski beat City's offside trap for a run in on goal.

McLaughlin was out quickly to smother his first effort, but the danger wasn't over.

As Zebroski went for a second bite of the cherry, Threlfall appeared to knock the ball away from the Torquay winger with his hand.

Zebroski still managed to strike the post with the rebound, but Referee Tanner had already given a penalty and then sent off Threlfall.

There was now a real danger of the match spilling away from the Bantams before they had really started, but McLaughlin gave City a lifeline to cling onto as he parried away Wroe's spot kick.

After a brief spell with Lee Bullock replacing Threlfall at left back, Taylor brought on Zesh Rehman to play the position as City changed to 4-4-1 formation.

With their numerical disadvantage though, City had to dig deep to keep themselves in the fixture.

McLaughlin produced a fine reflex save to tip Lee Mansell's long range drive onto the crossbar as City hung on to the interval.

For the second period, Taylor switched the Bantams to a 3-4-2 formation, with Lewis Hunt and substitute Luke O'Brien playing as wing backs.

The formation appeared to give City more balance, but Torquay were still proving a threat.

In quick succession, Benyon fired narrowly wide and Kevin Nicholson's free kick had to be tipped over by McLaughlin.

McLaughlin made another smart reaction save from Benyon after Nicholson's cut back from the byline before the Bantams keeper was involved in the home side's second.

The 22 year old charged out of his goal to beat Zebroski to a loose ball inside the penalty area, but instead of going to smother the ball with his hands, he elected to try and kick clear.

This error of judgement would prove costly as Zebroski managed to charge down McLaughlin's attempted clearance and the ball looped up and into the net.

The Bantams now had a mountain to climb, especially when Mark Lillis nearly made it three after narrowly heading over from a corner, but to their credit, they battled gamely on.

James Hanson was firstly denied by a super one handed save from Bevan as the giant striker rose highest to head O'Brien's hanging free-kick goalwards.

With time running out, Bevan was on hand to repel Hanson again when he stooped to crawl the striker's header away from the line.

A late goal would have been some sort of reward for the City fans who made the long journey down to the South Coast, but in truth, Torquay were worthy winners.