Town's play-off hopes were dealt a blow as they were beaten 2-0 by lowly Bradford. The 49th minute sending off of Hermann Hreidarsson saw the game turn the Bantams' way after a first half where the Blues had been largely the better side. Goals from Claus Jorgensen and Danny Forrest won the day for the home side.
Town lined-up as against Sheffield United last week with Darrens Ambrose and Bent again on the bench.
The earliest chance fell to Simon Francis but his shot was easy for Andy Marshall. For Town Fabian Wilnis gave former Blues' loanee Aidan Davison his first test, his effort well-struck but too close to the keeper.
Town dominated possession, but Bradford were creating the odd chance here and there, Ashley Ward, a loan target of Town earlier in the season, heading over after ex-Blue Gus Uhlenbeek had crossed well from the right.
Hermann Hreidarsson came close for Town when he headed a Wilnis cross wide, just before Pablo Couñago came even closer, his headed effort cleared off the line by Uhlenbeek from a Jim Magilton corner.
Just before the half hour Danny Forrest miskicked when well-placed on the right of the Town area. At the other end Marcus Bent tried to take the ball past keeper Davison at a tight angle but the keeper squeezed the ball out for a corner.
Town came closest to a goal in the 32nd minute when Marcus Bent headed Matt Holland's right wing cross against the post from 18 yards.
With a minute left of the half, Couñago had the ball in the net from a right wing cross but the linesman's flag had already been raised.
As the first period ended referee Clive Wilkes controversially turned down a Town appeal for a penalty. Marcus Bent took the ball into the Bantams' box and was felled as he went past Mark Bower. Bent was convinced he had been tripped as were the Town faithful who made their feelings known to Wilkes for that and a number of other surprising decisions as half-time came.
The Blues had had the majority of the game, but had created few chances. Bradford had got men behind the ball when the Blues were in possession, but had created a number of chances themselves.
Joe Royle clearly felt that the game was there for the taking and brought on Darren Bent for Fabian Wilnis at half-time, Bent moving up front in what appeared to be a 3-4-3 formation.
Town had Hermann Hreidarsson to thank a minute into the new half after an uncleared corner was crossed back into Danny Forrest whose header was going in until the Icelander's intervention.
Three minutes later Hreidarsson was involved in the game's turning point. Throughout the game the Town left wing-back had been involved in minor with Uhlenbeek and Francis. The Icelander had been pulled back by Francis and after the kick the Town man appeared to flick the Bradford youngster in the face. Referee Wilkes was quick to act, showing a straight red card.
Hreidarsson took his time before leaving the field and was clearly unhappy at the decision. Town continued with an audacious 3-3-3 formation for a couple of minutes, but eventually the out of sorts Pablo Couñago was sacrificed, Darren Ambrose coming on in his stead.
With the extra man Bradford now had the impetus. Forrest hit a shot wide when he at least should have hit the target. A minute later the Blues had Marcus Bent to thank when he cleared an Ashley Ward header off the line.
But there was to be no similar escape on 61 when Forrest played the ball into an unmarked Claus Jorgensen who struck a shot beyond Marshall and into the net.
Chris Makin found his way into the book in the 66th minute for a foul on Jorgensen, although the Dane had appeared to handle the ball earlier as the two clashed.
Bradford were having much the better of it and in the 68th minute they went further ahead. Debutant Forrest, unmarked inside the Town area, latched onto a Ward knockdown and made no mistake.
Town appeared beaten but with 15 minutes left, Darren Bent ran onto an Ambrose past and sent the ball over Davison but off the bar. That rather typified the Blues' afternoon.
Martijn Reuser replaced Jim Magilton before the end but the Dutchman failed to inspire a Town comeback. For Bradford Jorgensen hit a shot into the sidenetting.
Late on Ambrose failed to take an opportunity when teed up by Darren Bent and Marshall made a fine save from Francis.
A poor result for Town, although largely caused by the red card issued to Herman Hreidarsson. Had the game been eleven against eleven then a very different result was likely.
Town: Marshall, Wilnis (D Bent 46), Hreidarsson, Holland, Makin, Gaardsøe, Miller, Wright, Magilton (Reuser 77), Couñago (Ambrose 52), M Bent.