City boss Gary Bowyer felt it was important for his side to secure the extra bonus point at Bolton Wanderers this Tuesday evening, as the Bantams opened their Leasing.com Trophy campaign with a penalty shoot-out success over the Sky Bet League One side.
Following a 1-1 draw in normal time, with Paudie O'Connor scoring for the Bantams, City shot-stopper Sam Hornby's save from a Adam Senior penalty ensured Bowyer's men claimed two points and a 4-3 spot-kick win in their opening Northern Group F encounter.
Bolton's opening goal came in just in the eighth minute via Dennis Politic - one of a number of teenagers on show for the hosts - but City hit the post twice, had a goal disallowed and had another effort cleared off the line either side of O'Connor leveller early into the second period.
Coming just days after Bolton's welcome takeover was officially completed and the announcement of their new management team, over 9,000 fans attended the first match under their new ownership.
Bowyer said: "I thought it was a game played out in a fabulous atmosphere.
"It was a fabulous occasion for Bolton Wanderers and you can already sense the excitement around the football club. Bringing in Keith Hill (Bolton's new manager) is a wonderful appointment.
"You could see by the fact that the kick off was delayed that the supporters here are delighted just to have their football club.
"I felt Bolton's young lads rose to the occasion and the atmosphere, and they performed magnificently, especially in the first half.
"That perhaps caught one or two of our lads by surprise. It was a massive learning curve for one or two of them.
"They (Bolton) got the goal in that (first) period and that obviously gave them a lift.
"We didn't do well in the first half, that is a simple matter of fact.
"We came into it more in the second half and had a lot of chances.
"We told the players at half time to relax and simply play the game and not the occasion.
"Some of the players were perhaps trying to do things individually and not collectively in the first period.
"Second half, there were a lot of positives. Harry Pritchard's performance was different class - you can certainly see what he will bring to us.
"He was a little unfortunate perhaps to see his goal disallowed for handball.
"Zeli (Ismail) coming on and having half an hour, showing us what he is capable of, was another positive.
"When it did go to the penalty shoot-out, we are delighted to then go on and win it. That was important."
Bowyer made seven changes to his side on Tuesday night, but one of the starters from last Saturday at Crewe - Jamie Devitt- was forced off just seventeen minutes in due to injury.
The on-loan Blackpool attacker will now face tests after suffering suspected hamstring problems at the University of Bolton Stadium.
Bowyer added: "The big disappointment of the night was losing Jamie Devitt.
"He is definitely out for the weekend (vs Northampton). We needed to get minutes into him tonight, but unfortunately he has just over-stretched in the middle of the park."