Disappointed Dean Windass watched City's top-two hopes go with the wind and confessed: We blew it.

The Bantams left blustery Brentford empty-handed after two goals in the final 15 minutes condemned them to a first league defeat since the opening day.

It was a bitter blow for Colin Todd's side, who had led through Mark Bower after bossing the first half.

At that stage they were on course for second spot behind leaders Nottingham Forest but Windass admitted the strong wind blew City out of their stride.

He said: "At half-time I didn't feel we were in any danger. We kept the ball, passed it well and got a goal from a set-piece which we work on all the time.

"But the wind played a big part in the game. It seemed to get stronger in the second half and we couldn't get out of our half.

"We stopped passing the ball, the distance between the back four, midfield and strikers got too big and we couldn't escape. Brentford's strengths are launching the ball long into the box and with that strong wind, we couldn't deal with them. It's disappointing because the way we've been playing we expect to come to places like this and win."

Windass had two penalty shouts rejected by referee Andy D'Urso and added: "I thought the first one was a stone-wall decision. The lad tried to tackle me as I ran through, blocked me off and I fell over."

Todd expected a second-half onslaught from the home side - and felt his players should have coped with the pressure.

The City boss said: "They got among us and stopped us playing. We lost our rhythm because the opposition worked us hard and gave away far too many free-kicks.

"It's annoying when you can play well for long periods and end up with nothing. But that's a harsh reality we have to accept and get on with it.

"You have to accept the elements. We've come here before when it was raining heavily and we won."