City lost out in extraordinary fashion at Exeter City thanks to a one-sided and flattering scoreline that doesn't begin to tell the true story of the game.
Despite Phil Parkinson's men bossing the game for long periods, especially in a dominant second half display, City almost unbelievably lost thanks to two goals in either half from the hosts.
An unfortunate own-goal from Will Atkinson after only ten minutes kicked off the scoring for Exeter before Grecians debutant Lawson D'Ath headed home towards the end of the first half.
City's almost constant second half pressure was rewarded eleven minutes from the end, however, when substitute Kyel Reid's corner was deflected in off the head of Craig Woodman.
Just as it looked like the Bantams would use the goal as a chance to launch a much-expected comeback though, Scott Bennett took the wind out of City's sails once again with a drive from the edge of the area just three minutes later.
With City now playing with only three at the back and fully committed to attack in the game's closing stages, Exeter undeservedly netted a fourth on the break when John O'Flynn tapped home from close range following Mark Molesley drive across goal.
90min: There will be four minutes added on at the end of the match.
88min: GOAL - Exeter City 4 Bradford City 1 - This is getting a bit silly now. City have completely bossed the second period but the game is now put beyond them when Exeter score a fourth on the break. Molesley's low drive across goal is finished off by a simple tap in from almost on the goal-line by O'Flynn. The goal puts a completely unfair gloss on the scoreline in Exeter's favour.
83min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Nahki Wells for Nelson. City will now play with a back three.
82min: GOAL - Exeter City 3 Bradford City 1 - How cruel! After City battle so hard to deservedly get back into the match, Exeter restore their two-goal advantage with one of their first efforts on target of the second half. O'Flynn lays the ball off to the waiting Bennett, who drives home from just outside the area with a rising strike into the top of Duke's net.
80min: YELLOW CARD - Coles is booked for blocking off Reid as the winger looked to burst forward with menace deep into Exeter territory.
79min: SUB - Exeter bring on Steve Tully for Gosling.
79min: GOAL!!!!!!!!!!! Exeter City 2 Bradford City 1 - After almost constant second half pressure, City have a way back into the match when Reid's fizzing corner finds the far corner thanks to a glancing touch off the head of Woodman on its way through.
74min: YELLOW CARD - Amankwaah is booked for bringing down Reid just inside Exeter's own half as the winger looked to burst past the home full back.
72min: Nelson fires a few yards wide of goal with a volley from the edge of the area after Exeter can only half-clear a Reid ball into the area.
72min: YELLOW CARD - Mark Molesley is booked for a late tackle on Hines right on the halfway line.
70min: O'Flynn nearly sneaks in for a clear sight of Duke's goal until Davies and Nelson combine to force out the striker. Nelson looks to clear kick after his defensive work with Davies but his attempted clearance strikes the lurking Keohane before bouncing out for a goal-kick.
69min: Reid tries his luck from distance and his effort rolls only a yard or so wide of goal.
68min: CHANCE! Reid sends over a stunning cross into the area but Hanson can only fire over on the volley from just outside the six yard box.
63min: SUB - Exeter bring on Jimmy Keohane for D'Ath
63min: Reid's cross-come-shot flashes a yard or so wide of Krysiak's far post having just gone out of the reach of the lurking Connell inside the area.
61min: Hanson's low centre across Exeter's penalty area is just deflected wide of Hines, who is steaming in at the back post and looking for a tap-in.
59min: CHANCE! Hanson connects with a Jones corner but his downward header from around the far post is kicked clear from almost off the goal-line by an Exeter player.
56min: D'Ath drive for goal from around 20 yards out is claimed with relative ease by a diving Duke.
54min: Bennett's first time drive from outside the area is held by Duke.
52min: Hanson heads a hanging free-kick from deep by Duke into the path of Connell but the City striker can't quite get his shot away inside the area and Exeter can eventually clear.
49min: Hanson shoots narrowly wide of goal with a side-footed effort from the very edge of Exeter's penalty area.
46min: The Bantams restart the match.
HT SUB - City bring on Kyel Reid and Zavon Hines for Thompson and Doyle respectively. City will now line up in a standard 4-4-2 formation with Reid and Hines on the wings, Jones and Atkinson in central midfield and Connell joining Hanson in attack.
HT: Exeter City 2 Bradford City 0
45+5min: Thompson drags a low strike wide of Krysiak's goal with an effort from just outside the area.
45min: Partly due to the early knock to Davies, there will be five minutes of time added on at the end of the first half.
45min: GOAL - Exeter City 2 Bradford City 0 - Despite City bossing possession for large parts in this half, they somehow find themselves two goals behind now on the stroke of half-time. Gosling's flighted cross into the area loops up off the head of Atkinson and D'Ath is on hand at the near post to beat Duke to the ball and heads home.
42min: Bennett nips in to latch onto a long throw-in into the area by Amankwaah. The Exeter midfielder fires for goal from almost right on the byline but his effort crashes into the side-netting by Duke's near post.
36min: Gosling's low angled drive from inside the area is saved by his near post by Duke.
36min: Doyle slices a drive wide of goal from the edge of the area after a dangerous Hanson cross into the penalty box had only been half-cleared by Exeter's defence.
34min: O'Flynn is now back on himself complete with hand bandage
33min: YELLOW CARD - Believing McHugh to be the guilty party in the aerial tangle with O'Flynn, referee Mr Salisbury books the Irish defender.
33min: McHugh is now back on the pitch and able to continue but O'Flynn is still off the pitch at the moment as he gets his head strapped up.
31min: O'Flynn and McHugh are both down and requiring a spot of treatment from their respective physios after a clash of heads while the pair jumped up for the ball.
25min: Davies is in the right place to make a vital clearance in the middle of City's area to prevent an Exeter player latching onto Scot Bennett's dangerous cut-back following Jake Gosling's far post cross.
23min: CHANCE! Carl McHugh heads Doyle's corner down into the six yard box but Davies, who is leaning back, can only poke a first-time effort over the bar.
23min: Hanson drives forward with purpose into Exeter's area but the combination of Kevin Amankwaah and Woodman just about do enough to prevent the striker from firing for goal deep inside the box.
22min: Stephen Darby's cross into the area is flicked on by Hanson towards Jones over by the far end of Exeter's penalty area. Jones strikes for goal first time on the half-volley but his effort is sliced well wide of Krysiak's goal.
17min: John O'Flynn just gets onto the end of a long ball forward from Danny Coles but his flick for goal from a tight angle by the byline is simple enough for Duke.
13min: After a spot of treatment though, Doyle is able to carry on with the game.
12min: Nathan Doyle is now down in a heap after an accidental clash with Davies near the centre circle.
10min: GOAL - Exeter City 1 Bradford City 0 - Despite a decent start to the match, the Bantams concede early in the game in unfortunate circumstances from Exeter's first corner of the match. Craig Woodman's searching far post delivery from the set-piece is pushed onto the post by Matt Duke before the ball bounces back off a helpless Will Atkinson and into his own goal.
5min: Nelson's downward header from Gary Jones' searching free-kick into the area is gathered by Artur Krysiak.
5min: Despite it looking at one stage like he would have to come off due to the blow to his head, Davies is now back on the pitch and able to take his place once again in City's defensive back four.
4min: The match now gets underway once again as Davies, who is now up on his feet, continues to receive some treatment off the pitch.
1min: Andrew Davies is down seemingly in a lot of pain following an accidental clash with Michael Nelson as the pair went to head clear an early Exeter attack.
0min: Exeter kick off the match.
2:58pm: Both sides make their way out of the tunnel at St James Park and onto a pitch which is very muddy and wet in places after a heavy pre-match downpour. The pitch is still playable but the wet surface could make the match interesting at times, especially if there are any further heavy rain showers.