A goal from the returning Kelvin Mellor saw City claim a point, playing out a 1-1 draw at home to Gillingham.
Mellor - making his first appearance in claret and amber since sustaining a knee injury last month - gave the hosts the lead just 10 minutes in.
But Bowyer's Bantams were pegged back in controversial fashion during the second half.
City controlled large parts of the first period and, after a bright and enforcing start, had the head of Mellor to thank for the game's opening goal.
Billy Clarke’s teasing free-kick was swung in from the right and Mellor rose highest to put it past Tomas Holy in the Gillingham net.
However, the visitors grew in confidence after the interval and equalised in dubious circumstances with 53 minutes on the clock.
After a deep Regan Charles-Cook cross from the left was seemingly caught by Ben Wilson, Brandon Hanlan stole the ball from the City ‘keeper’s grasp - appearing to foul him in the process - and walked it into the back of the empty net.
City could have regained the lead 10 minutes later when man-of-the-match Sean Scannell was denied his first Bantams goal.
His shot, from a low Connor Wood centre, was heroically blocked by Connor Ogilvie.
The Bantams pushed for a would-be winning goal, but 1-1 it remained as Gary Bowyer’s men picked up a welcome point against the mid-table Gills - their first since March 9.
CITY: Ben Wilson; Kelvin Mellor, Paudie O’Connor (c), Anthony O’Connor, Connor Wood (Calum Woods 76’); Josh Wright, Jermaine Anderson; Sean Scannell, Billy Clarke (booked 61’, Butterfield 80’), Lewis O’Brien; George Miller (Eoin Doyle 76’). Subs (not used): Richard O’Donnell (GK), Jack Payne, Danny Devine, Paul Caddis.
GOALS: Mellor (10’).
GILLS: Tomas Holy; Luke O’Neill, Max Ehmer (c), Connor Ogilvie, Barry Fuller (Bradley Garmston 40’); Mark Byrne; Leonardo Da Silva Lopes (Josh Rees 65’), Elliott List, Regan Charles-Cook; Brandon Hanlan, Tahvon Campbell (Tom Eaves 83’). Subs (not used): Tom Hadler (GK), Alex Lacey, Darren Oldaker, Billy King.
GOALS: Hanlan (53’).
MAN OF THE MATCH: Sean Scannell.