City exited the Carabao Cup following a 4-0 home defeat to Sky Bet Championship side Preston North End.
With only three players keeping their places in the starting line-up from Saturday’s trip to Grimsby, the Bantams were second best from the outset against their second-tier opponents.
The visitors began the affair in control, taking the lead inside the opening quarter of an hour.
Tom Clarke’s pin-point cross was met at the far post by Aston Villa loanee Andre Green - a constant threat throughout - who scrambled it home.
It did not take Preston long to double their advantage, making it 2-0 just five minutes later.
After winning the ball back inside their hosts’ half, the Lilywhites worked the ball to Tom Barkhuizen who squeezed in past Sam Hornby.
City began the second half with more attacking intent and were inches away from pulling a goal back, after Connor Wood’s curling effort struck the crossbar from distance.
But Alex Neil’s men grabbed another goal in the 53rd minute.
A loose Anthony O'Connor pass was picked up by Barkhuizen who made no mistake when bearing down on goal - to make it 3-0.
And Preston completed their success on 72 minutes.
Substitute Josh Harrop made an instant impact, with his deflected effort looping in over debuting City goalkeeper Sam Hornby.
CITY: Sam Hornby; Tyler French, Anthony O’Connor, Paudie O’Connor (c), Jackson Longridge (booked 57’); Sean Scannell (Omari Patrick 73’), Jermaine Anderson, Hope Akpan, Danny Devine (Luca Colville 73’), Connor Wood; Eoin Doyle. Subs (not used): Richard O’Donnell (GK), Ben Richards-Everton, Kelvin Mellor, Matt Palmer, Clayton Donaldson.
PRESTON: Connor Ripley; Tom Clarke (c), Jordan Storey, Joe Rafferty, Brad Potts (Ethan Walker 80’); Jayden Stockley (Josh Harrop 71’), Ryan Ledson, Tom Bayliss, Alan Browne; Andre Green (Josh Ginnelly 72’), Tom Barkhuizen. Subs (not used): Michael Crowe (GK), Ben Pearson, Ben Davies, Sean Maguire.
GOALS: Green (14’), Barkhuizen (19’, 53’), Harrop (71).
ATTENDANCE: 3,456 (917 visitors).
REFEREE: Matthew Donohue.