City were sent crashing to a 4-0 defeat on their return to action at Cheltenham this afternoon.

After 17 days without a game, the Bantams must wish their trip to Whaddon Road had become another victim of the icy snap.

City had a lot of possession but Cheltenham were clinical and made everything count.

City came under early pressure and Steve Elliott nodded over from close range when it looked easier to score.

Cheltenham had a shoot-on-sight policy with Wesley Thomas a menace to the away defence.

City could have grabbed the lead on the break through Gareth Evans and David Syers.

But Cheltenham were on top and made their superiority count with two goals in four minutes.

Jeff Goulding struck the first with the help of a generous deflection that gave Lenny Pidgeley no chance.

But there was nothing lucky about the second when Marlon Pack smashed home a 25-yarder after a poor clearance from Richard Eckersley.

Pidgeley saved superbly from Danny Andrew before City tried to get back into the game.

But Cheltenham made sure of the points with Goulding forcing in his second from a rebound after Pidgeley had pulled off an instinctive block to keep out Martin Riley.

And the outstanding Thomas threw salt in the wounds by making it 4-0 14 minutes from time.

Oliver headed against the post late on but nothing was going for City, who will be looking for an immediate response at Lincoln on New Year's Day.