City were frustratingly held to a point by home side Morecambe as Phil Parkinson's men began 2013 with a goalless draw at the Globe Arena.
On a soft and bobbling pitch, City overcame the difficult playing surface to dominate the New Year's Day fixture for large periods, especially in the second half, but they couldn't find the breakthrough required to secure all three points.
In a second period almost completely controlled by Parkinson's side, Rory McArdle and James Hanson saw headers saved by Barry Roche at either ends of the half, while substitute Nahki Wells also threatened on more than one occasion.
Hanson had also seen a headed effort repelled by Roche in a low-key first half which was edged by a City side who had lined up in a 4-3-1-2 formation at the start of the game.
Ricky Ravenhill, Will Atkinson and Ritchie Jones were all recalled after Saturday's Rochdale defeat to make up City's midfield three, while Gary Jones was given licence to support a front two of Zavon Hines and Hanson.
66min: Alessandra's inswinging cross just evades Burrow in the middle, who flings himself at the ball but can't quite make connect with it when positioned around six yards from goal.
64min: After Ellison sees a shot blocked inside the area, the loose ball falls to Jack Redshaw but his effort flies wide of Duke's near post.
57min: SUB - Morecambe bring on former Bantams defender Robbie Threlfall for Drummond, who appeared to have picked up an injury earlier.
57min: After connecting with a hanging free-kick from deep by Gary Jones, McArdle sends a looping header from just inside Morecambe's area comfortably wide of Roche's goal.
51min: Wells' teasing inswinging cross from the far end of the penalty area bounces out of the reach of Hanson in the middle before narrowly going wide of Roche's far post.
48min: Roche makes a great diving save to his left to keep out a forceful header from McArdle following a Gary Jones corner.
46min: The Bantams restart the match.
HT SUBS: City have brought on Curtis Good and Nahki Wells for Meredith and Hines before the beginning of the second half. Both changes are straight swaps, meaning Good will begin the second half at left back.
HT: Morecambe 0 Bradford City 0
45min: There will be a minute of time added on at the end of the first half.
38min: Hanson's downward header from around the penalty spot following a Gary Jones corner is saved by the legs of Roche.
36min: Hanson can only half-clear a Alessandra free-kick to the far post with a header on the stretch but Drummond can't take advantage as he blasts the loose ball well over the bar from around twelve yards out.
33min: After Zavon Hines had seen a shot blocked from the edge of Morecambe's area, Will Atkinson hits the rebound for goal but his low effort from around 20 yards out rolls comfortably wide of Roche's goal.
26min: With the pitch here at the Globe Arena seemingly very soft under foot, it's making it hard for both sides to create too many clear-cut attacks going forward. Matt Duke does have to run outside his area, however, to beat Lewis Alessandra to a long free-kick from deep by Stewart Drummond.
12min: Seconds after the hosts see a penalty shout turned down following a coming together in the air between James Hanson and Kevin Ellison, City break forward on the counter-attack with menace. Ritchie Jones eventually finds himself in space down City's right flank before picking out his namesake Gary in the middle with a low centre. Gary Jones strikes for goal with a first-time effort from around fourteen yards out but the effort is vitally blocked out by the diving frame of Andy Parrish.
9min: Gary Jones latches onto a loose ball on the edge of Morecambe's penalty area after the Shrimps fail to properly clear a cross into the area from James Meredith. Jones strikes the ball on the volley but his effort is sliced and loops up harmlessly into the path of Morecambe 'keeper Barry Roche, who gathers easily.
0min: Morecambe kick off the match. City, defending the goal which is brimmed full with Bradford supporters, will attack into an occasional breeze in the first period.