But the second half was a different story, and it took the Bantams just a minute of it before they opened the scoring. Frazer McHugh played the ball through and Kevin Sansay finished past Alan Fettis, who was returning from injury in the City goal.
Michael Standing added a second before McHugh got the third from long range, and City were lucky not to suffer a heavier defeat as a succession of chances went begging.
The Tigers' second string now have over two weeks to get it right when they'll be looking to get their season started for the visit of Barnsley to Boothferry Park on Wednesday 8th October (kick-off 7pm).
City line-up: Fettis; Wiseman, Holt, Burton, Peat; Regan, Fry, Russell, Williams; Forrester, Donaldson.
Subs: Harvey, Byron, Cooper, Matthews, Allanson.