City progressed to the second round of the Carabao Cup with a 2-1 victory over fellow Sky Bet League Two side Bolton Wanderers.
Goals from Lee Novak and Harry Pritchard ensured the Bantams got off to the perfect start in their opening game of the 2020/21 campaign.
City started the cup tie in positive fashion, with the earliest chance of the afternoon falling to Billy Clarke in the 14th minute.
The Irish forward attempted an audacious chip from the edge of the penalty area - which forced Wanderers goalkeeper Billy Crelin into an acrobatic finger-tipped save.
City continued to apply the pressure and Lee Novak opened the scoring in the 26th minute, calmly finishing a squared pass from Tyler French from six yards out.
After Novak’s opener, the hosts were stunned into life with a flurry of attacks but the Bantams defence remained resolute to see the away side ahead at half-time.
The hosts made the perfect start after the break with Trotters skipper Antoni Sarcevic slotting home in the 46th minute after a partially-cleared cross fell straight to his feet inside the penalty area.
Sarcevic then almost put Wanderers into the lead in the 53rd minute, with his curling effort from 18 yards out flying just inches wide of the post, past a fully-stretched Richard O’Donnell.
Harry Pritchard came on for City in the 61st minute as Stuart McCall looked to freshen the legs in the Bantams attack.
Shortly after, Pritchard restored the visitors’ advantage in the 74th minute - getting on the end of Anthony O’Connor’s lofted cross with a cushioned header into the far post.
City came close to doubling their lead in the 88th minute, as former Wanderers striker Clayton Donaldson was played in by Callum Cooke but the effort was stopped by Crellin between the sticks.
The Bantams withstood late pressure in a scrappy end to the cup tie, and referee Martin Coy blew the full-time whistle to ensure a winning start to the season for Stuart McCall’s side.
The Bantams now progress through to the second round of the Carabao Cup, with the draw taking place tomorrow - live on Sky Sports.
WANDERERS: Billy Crellin; Gethin Jones, Ricardo Almeida Santos, George Taft, Liam Gordon (Shaun Miller 80’); Tom White, Brandon Comley (Ali Crawford 68’), Antoni Sarcevic; Nathan Delfouneso, Eoin Doyle. Subs (not used): Matthew Alexander, Ryan Delaney, Jak Hickman, Andrew Tutte, Bright Amoateng.
GOALS: Antoni Sarcevic (46’).
CITY: Richard O’Donnell; Tyler French, Paudie O’Connor, Anthony O’Connor, Reece Staunton, Connor Wood; Callum Cooke, Elliot Watt, Billy Clarke (Harry Pritchard 61’); Kurtis Guthrie (Clayton Donaldson 72’), Lee Novak. Subs (not used): Sam Hornby, Jackson Longridge, Ben Richards-Everton, Zeli Ismail, Kian Scales.
GOALS: Lee Novak (26’), Harry Pritchard (74’).
REFEREE: Martin Coy.