City's dismal home run goes on after another depressing afternoon at Valley Parade.
Relegation-haunted Mansfield scrapped their way to three priceless points - and condemned the Bantams to their fourth home loss in five games.
Stuart McCall's hopes that the midweek win over Chester could act as another springboard were blown away.
City looked sluggish and ponderous from the start and fell behind after 15 minutes with Nathan Arnold whipping a shot home from 20 yards.
It could have got worse as Michael Boulding immediately missed a free header to double Mansfield's lead.
City bounced back to level on the stroke of half-time with Barry Conlon nodding his second goal in successive games from Paul Heckingbottom's free-kick.
But Mansfield regrouped and regained their advantage within six minutes of the re-start.
It was an awful goal to concede as the ball bobbled around the box before Boulding scuffed home his 21st goal of the season via the post.
City huffed and puffed to get back into it and Willy Topp shot over after a great turn and step-over. But there were few clear-cut chances despite the pressure.
CITY: Loach, Williams, Moncur, Wetherall, Heckingbottom, Colbeck, Evans, Johnson, Rhodes, Thorne, Conlon. Subs: Bower, Daley, Penford, Nix, Topp.
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