Bantams boss Phil Parkinson conceded that nothing went his side's way as they fell to a frustrating defeat at the hands of second-placed Preston North End at the Coral Windows Stadium this Easter Monday.
Following Christopher Routis' fourteenth minute red card, second half goals from Preston's Paul Gallagher, Daniel Johnson and Chris Humphrey secured all three points for the visitors against City's ten men.
Although Preston's ultimatel margin of victory was comfortable, Parkinson's men could point to a number of factors throughout the game that didn't go their way, not just Routis' early dismissal.
Jon Stead had a great chance to net first for City which was repelled by Preston 'keeper Sam Johnstone on the stroke of half time, while Gallagher's opener for Preston actually came on the rebound after his initial penalty had been saved by Ben Williams.
Even after Humphrey's third for Preston had taken a significant deflection off James Meredith, James Hanson saw his header from a Mark Yeates corner kicked clear off the line by the Lilywhites' Neil Kilkenny.
Parkinson said: "It is such a shame the game has gone this way because everybody, including myself and the players, will have come to the ground today (Monday) with such optimism. After Friday's game (vs Doncaster), I really fancied our chances.
"We have started the game well but the sending off has been a huge blow for us because we were up against such a good team.
"Even with ten men though, I felt we looked good going into half time.
"They had a good chance with (Joe) Garner but (Jon) Steady has had a good chance as well.
"We wanted to continue in the same vein for the second half but we couldn't have got off to a worst start with the penalty.
"Once we went behind to a top two side like Preston, it was always going to be difficult.
"We never give in though, we kept going until the end and we could have had a chance at some point in the second period if we'd pulled one back early enough.
"We just needed something to go for us - Billy Clarke has forced a great save from their keeper with a long range strike and (James) Hanson has had one cleared off the line as well.
"Ultimately, however, it was just one of those days where a lot went wrong for us.
"It wasn't to be for us today - football is a harsh game sometimes - but we have to move on, learn from this and regroup ahead of our trip to Gillingham this weekend."