An angry Phil Parkinson has demanded his City players bounce back with real purpose at Sheffield United on Saturday after suffering a humiliating home loss at the hands of Bristol City this Tuesday evening.
Six unanswered goals from the Bantams' high-flying visitors sealed their promotion back up into the Championship in style and condemned Parkinson's men to an embarrassing loss in front of their own supporters at the Coral Windows Stadium.
Parkinson brought his players back into the training ground this Wednesday - usually a rest day after a Tuesday night match - as City looked to work out what exactly went so wrong and how they can put it right in Saturday's Yorkshire Derby at Bramall Lane.
Parkinson said: "We didn't do any of the basics right in our defending tonight (Tuesday).
"As the goals were going in, we got worse at them.
"When it is tough out there and you are up against a good side, you have to ensure that you defend properly first and foremost.
"We did some uncharacteristic things tonight - we went away from looking a strong, committed team.
"Instead, we looked flimsy and second-best.
"In all my time here, I cannot remember that happening before to the extent it did tonight.
"We have taken many plaudits in that dressing room this season and down the years but this is a bad night for us and we need to get back to playing like Bradford City can.
"My job now is to ensure that when we run out at Bramall Lane on Saturday we are going to put in a physically-committed performance.
"The third goal really knocked the stuffing out of us and we found it very difficult to handle them (Bristol City).
"They are a very good side - they have some excellent players - but we didn't help ourselves.
"We have to get back to how we know we can play - simple as that.
"Win, lose or draw, I can normally look people in the eye after the game and know that the lads have given it absolutely everything - I can't tonight though.
"There were some really uncharacteristic performances out there and we have to find out the reasons why before we pick our team for Saturday."
While the Bantams were clearly below-par on the night this Tuesday, it has to be noted that opponents Bristol City were certainly in sparkling form and their forceful display at Valley Parade probably would have given any side in League 1 a difficult match.
As good as Bristol City were on the night, however, Parkinson says his players can't use that as an excuse after drawing with them down at Ashton Gate back in October and given the club's F.A Cup exploits earlier this season.
He added:"We have gone down there (Bristol City) earlier this season and drawn 2-2 and we've played Premier League and Championship sides this year and we acquitted ourselves a lot better than tonight.
"When the going got tough this evening, we didn't stand up as a unit to be counted.
"That was the most disappointing thing."