Stuart McCall’s Bantams narrowly lost out 3-2 to Sky Bet League One side Wigan Athletic at the Utilita Energy Stadium.
With the game being played behind closed doors due to local COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, goals from Kian Scales and Harry Pritchard proved not enough to salvage a pre-season victory.
The visitors set the tone early on, as a trialist flicked in from a knock-down to make it 1-0 inside the first two minutes.
However, despite the early steal, City were quick to make amends - courtesy of Scales.
The youngster latched on to a Clayton Donaldson flick-on before lifting the ball cleverly over Wigan goalkeeper Jamie Jones.
Nonetheless, after some hopeful attacking spells from McCall’s men, the Latics took the lead once more - on the 35th-minute mark.
Gary Roberts found himself open inside the box before blasting the ball past Bantams goalkeeper Sam Hornby.
Nine minutes into the second-half and Wigan had extended their lead.
Hornby tried to put a glove onto a trialist's cross but could not connect as Kal Naismith tapped home from close range.
There were signs of a comeback late on as second-half substitute Pritchard slotted in after an intelligent piece of play from Kurtis Guthrie.
Nevertheless, the Bantams could not secure the draw as Leam Richardson’s men came away with the win.
CITY: Samuel Hornby (GK); Finn Cousin-Dawson (Reece Staunton 69’), Ben Richards-Everton, Tyler French, Jackson Longridge; Zeli Ismail (Callum Cooke 69’), Kian Scales (Harry Pritchard 69’), Levi Sutton (Elliot Watt 69’), Connor Shanks (Jorge Sikora 69’); Billy Clarke (Lee Novak 69’), Clayton Donaldson (Kurtis Guthrie 69’).
GOALS: Kian Scales (19’), Harry Pritchard (81’).
WIGAN: Jamie Jones (GK); Nathan Byrne (Charlie Jolley 89’), Tom Pearce, Emeka Obi, Trialist (Adam Long 55’); Chris Merrie, Kal Naismith (Scott Smith 90’), Trialist (Alex Perry 68’), Trialist (Kyle Joseph 69’); Gary Roberts (Thelo Aasgaard 89’), Trialist (Olly Crankshaw 69’).
GOALS: Trialist (2’), Gary Roberts (35’), Kal Naismith (54’).