City boss Phil Parkinson felt his Bantams were lacking the cutting edge required this Saturday as they fell to only their second home defeat of the season at the hands of Exeter City.
A fine finish from veteran striker Jamie Cureton just before the interval proved to be the difference on a day when City seemed to be missing some of their usual verve and vigour.
The Bantams huffed and puffed in the second period as they attempted to find a way back in the match - creating a couple of decent half chances along the way - but Parkinson acknowledged that City probably didn't do enough to warrant denying Exeter the three points.
Parkinson said: "I felt against Exeter's diamond formation, the obvious area to exploit was the wide areas. We lacked a real spark in those areas today."
"Whether it was a surging full back or a wide player with a bit of trickery to open the opposition up, I just didn't feel we had any of that this afternoon.
"We seemed to be plodding through the first half without really playing with any spark.
"We should have at least gone in level at half time though, but we've lost out with a header at the back stick and then conceded.
"In the second half we were better but we clearly needed that goal.
"There were moments in that half - James' (Hanson) header from the corner, Tommo's (Garry Thompson) chance - you have to make the 'keeper work.
"On days like today, if one of your strikers scores from a little moment of nothing, it gives everyone a lift and you forget any tired legs we may have. The crowd would have undoubtedly been lifted a knock and we may have gone onto win the game.
"But we lacked that moment of inspiration from one of our forwards today."