Stuart McCall felt his side’s 1-0 defeat at home to Carlisle United typified the broader situation City currently find themselves in.
Following a scrappy first half in which City looked to carry an attacking threat, Rhys Bennet pounced with 57 minutes on the clock to condemn the Bantams to defeat at the Utilita Energy Stadium.
McCall felt his team did well to suppress Carlisle’s threats, but conceded a sloppy goal and gave themselves no chance of winning the match.
He said: “It was a tight game with not a great deal of quality. In the first half, we were probably the better side and had the better opportunities.
“When we came in at half-time, we knew the next goal - like at Leyton Orient, when it was a tight game - was going to be important, and we made an individual error to concede.
“After that, we did not really carry a threat, only at set-plays. We looked to change it from the bench. We have got defenders and young kids, so all in all it was tough.
“I watched Carlisle at Salford and they were really good - and should have won by more.
“You saw in the first half what their game plan was. Chris Beech has done a terrific job there and has got the best out of his players.
“We stopped their threats in the wide areas and to lose a goal like we did just typified the way things are going at the minute.
“I am not saying for one second we deserved to win the game, but they scored in the 57th minute and that took the confidence out of us a little bit.
“When you lose a goal as we did, through a poor error, it disrupts you. We did not look like we carried the same threat from that point on, and that is to do with confidence as well.”
McCall has stressed the importance of a week's break ahead of his side's trip to Oldham Athletic - for players he has both in and out of the physio room.
He believes the rest will give injured players vital time to recover, while allowing fit members of the squad to mentally recharge their batteries.
The Bantams boss added: “The key before next week is having a few more players available. We will hopefully have lads back out on the training field and available to us for Saturday.
“The conditions at the minute are very tough so it will be good to mentally have a breather, despite wanting to get straight back out there after a defeat.
“Most importantly, I would like to be hopeful of having a few more bodies back in to strengthen us.
“We have played three teams in the top six at home recently and have put in competitive performances against all of them - with players out injured.
“The shining light is that, hopefully, once we get players back in, we will be able to get results. At the moment, it is naturally very tough.”