Bantams boss Phil Parkinson was quick to acknowledge the contributions of sub duo Alan Connell and Kyel Reid after the pair combined to engineer City's match-winner in their Boxing Day clash with Accrington Stanley.
With time running out and the scores level at 1-1, Reid crossed for fellow replacement Connell to crucially head home past Accrington 'keeper Paul Rachubka at his near post and earn Parkinson's men another three-point haul.
Speaking about Connell firstly, Parkinson said: "That's his sixth of the season now. His scoring record has been great no matter where he's been. What a great sub to be able to bring on, hey?"
"He was unlucky not to start really. I just felt that the conditions were best suited to Zavon's (Hines) pace.
"What a way to answer from Alan though? I'm really pleased for him and for Kyel as well to get the assist.
"It is really important to us to maintain a strong bench - we certainly had that today.
"When the games are coming thick and fast, like they have been doing pretty much all season, we need to have the ability to bring on fresh legs who have the quality to win you the game. Kyel and Alan gave us that today."
The hard-fought victory - secured thanks to Connell's 87th minute winner - came after ten-man Accrington had set up the unlikely prospect of snatching a point from the game when Romauld Boco equalised with ten minutes to go.
Parkinson added: "I said before the game and again at half-time, this was going to be a day where we'd have to grind out a victory."
"With the weather conditions out there and having to deal with a bit of illness in the squad leading up to the match, we knew it might be a day to roll the sleeves up and scrap for the win.
"One-nil up against ten men, you'd should say that we'd go on and kill things off. But we haven't, and we've conceded a goal where we've probably dropped too deep from a free-kick.
"The way we've responded, however, to get the three points was excellent.
"It took a moment of quality to win it for us - Kyel Reid with the cross and Alan Connell making a difficult header look easy."
"That never-say-die attitude is so important to us.
"You can't feel sorry for yourself in football. The game lasts 90+ minutes and you have to make every one of them count.
"We have showed that time and time again this season.
"We probably could have looked around at each other after an equaliser against ten men and started to feel sorry for ourselves.
"But we didn't, we drove on and picked up a good three points.
"I said to the boys before the game that you make sacrifices as a player around Christmas - watching what you eat and drink - and it is nice when it plays off with wins and points.
"We've started this Christmas period well with a win and we'll hope to continue that against Rochdale at the weekend."