City boss Stuart McCall insisted there were plenty of positives to take from his side's 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s in the EFL Trophy.
The Bantams proved unable to take a bonus point from the fixture, losing out 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out.
However, McCall was encouraged by what he saw at the Utilita Energy Stadium after what he regarded a "productive" evening of football.
He said: "I really enjoyed the game. It was an end-to-end match and we were up against a very strong side.
"We know in the final game against Oldham that, if we win, we will probably go through, so it was an encouraging evening.
"It was a challenge. I know a couple of their players have gone on international duty but that meant that players from the first-team squad could come down and play for them.
"It was always going to be a good test. But, as I say, there were some really strong individual performances, we are just disappointed to lose out on penalties.”
The encounter also gave the likes of Finn Cousin-Dawson an opportunity to play in a new role as well as offering game time for the remainder of City's academy graduates.
The City manager was impressed with each of the first-year professionals' performances but singled out Cousin-Dawson as "terrific" - while deployed in a position out of his comfort zone.
McCall added: "If we go through all the performances, Kian Scales had moments in the middle of the park.
"He had a chance right at the end, which I expected him to put away, but he could not get it out of his feet.
"Jorge Sikora at the back was strong, but Finn Cousin-Dawson - playing in a role which he has never played in before - was terrific.
"Obviously he was booked in the first minute so was on edge and had to be careful throughout but, all in all, they all got about in the game, passed the ball well and were strong in the tackles.
"There were a lot of encouraging aspects but, certainly, Finn Cousin-Dawson was terrific."
The Bantams return to Sky Bet League Two action on Monday (October 12) when welcoming Harrogate Town to the Utilita Energy Stadium - in front of the Sky Sports cameras (7.45pm).
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