Gary Bowyer spoke of his disappointment after his Bantams’ eight-game unbeaten run was halted at Crawley Town.
Two first-half goals proved enough to condemn City to a 2-1 defeat at The People’s Pension Stadium.
Bowyer was disheartened at not being able to extend the streak - given his side’s recent form.
He said: “We were desperate to keep out unbeaten run going, so the main feeling after the match is one of disappointment.
“The two goals we gave away were poor from a defensive point of view and it is now about how we respond to this and go again.
“The manner of the goal we conceded was unlike us and unlike the form we have demonstrated, defensively.
“It is very disappointing, but this team has shown its ability to bounce back magnificently, so far this season. It is up to us now to get back out and do that again.”
Having not got on the scoresheet until the 84th minute - through Aramide Oteh - the Bantams boss believes his team’s best efforts came towards the end of the encounter.
He believes a slow start in the first period cost his men, who gave themselves too much to do in the encounter.
Bowyer added: “I think we gave ourselves too much do do, in the end. You cannot come into any game and give any team a two-goal head start, which is what we did.
“We said at half-time the next goal would be important - and we would have to score it.
“We did that but probably did it a bit too late, and were unable to follow it up to get a result. We had a lot of the ball but just did not manage to do enough with it.
“This team has the spirit and character to keep going on. You saw that again - at the death - so it was just a shame we were not able to make it count.”
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