A fifth successive away defeat left City teetering in the relegation mix after doing everything but score at Plymouth this afternoon.

The Bantams conceded a terrible early goal - and then spent most of the remainder of the game pushing unsuccessfully for an equaliser.

They threw the kitchen sink at the home side in the closing stages but Plymouth held firm under the pressure.

And the result means Phil Parkinson's side, who have now taken only one point in six games, remain deep in trouble.

With so many changes at the back, City needed time to bed in. Instead they suffered a nightmare start going behind after just four minutes.

Nobody picked up Juvhel Tsoumou who had a free header to nod home from Paul Wotton's free-kick.

It threatened to get worse as Wotton thundered another set-piece past Matt Duke. But the ball struck the inside of the post before bouncing off the keeper's back and behind.

David Syers then clipped the Plymouth woodwork after getting a toe on Ricky Ravenhill's shot.

City looked far happier going forward than defending and Michael Flynn flashed a drive just wide from Craig Fagan's lay-off.

Duke made his first proper save back in a City shirt with a good one low down to deny Tsoumou.

But the visitors were the better team since their shocking start and Syers was close again with a header from City's first corner which Durrell Berry blocked by the post.

There were still problems when Plymouth attacked and Nick Chadwick should have done better than a weak shot straight at Duke.

Kyel Reid came on for the second half after Ricky Ravenhill, who was a doubt ahead of the game, took a whack just before the break.

But Tsomou jangled nerves with an overhead kick over the bar and Chadwick went close after an error from Rob Kozluk.

James Hanson replaced Simon Ramsden as City stepped up their chase for an equaliser. And the sub nearly had one with a header which Plymouth skipper Simon Walton cleared off the line.

Chris Dagnall drove narrowly across goal and Hanson was again denied on the line by a frantic save by Jake Cole.

Duke made a fine save to keep out a Wotton blockbuster before Hanson skied another City opportunity.

Nahki Wells eventually had the ball in the net in the 88th minute - but the assistant's flag was up for offside.

As City's desperation and frustration grew, Cole superbly kept out Guy Branston's header and then denied Lee Bullock's reaction flick. The ball would not go in.