Accrington's largest crowd of the season saw one of their easiest wins as City folded to defeat at the Crown Ground.

The game was over as a contest within 16 minutes after two home goals.

The feeble Bantams showed little stomach for battle and never threatened any hint of a comeback. It was a dire afternoon.

Confident Stanley, who have lost only one of their last 16 games, needed only eight minutes to open the scoring with a superb finish. Luke Joyce dummied Jon Worthington to create enough space for a curler in the top corner of Lenny Pidgeley's net.

It quickly got worse for the Bantams. Accrington poured forward again and Terry Gornell laid off for skipper Andy Procter to drill a second goal.

The awful state of the pitch wasn't bothering the home side as Ian Craney shot narrowly wide after a lovely combination with Sean McConville.

City had offered very little the other way until ten minutes before the break when Lewis Hunt's firmly-struck drive was tipped over the bar by Alex Cisak. It was City's only shot on target.

The agony continued right on half-time as Accrington made it 3-0. Luke Oliver inadvertently flicked on a throw-in to give McConville a tap-in at the far post.

City were subjected to a chorus of "you're not fit to wear the shirt" from the angry away fans as they slumped off at the interval.

Lee Bullock came on for the second half in place of Steve Williams, who had been suffering with a stomach upset.

Damage limitation was now the order of the day after such a sorry performance.

Play-off chasing Accrington still threatened and Pidgeley blocked Joe Jacobson's header before Gornell fired over the rebound.

There was a bit of fight on show - but that came from Stanley team-mates Jimmy Ryan and Dean Winnard who got involved in a heated row after leaving Omar Daley free for a wayward shot.

McConville should have had his second but missed a one-on-one after more poor defending. It didn't matter.

City's awful result coupled with Barnet's win at Gillingham has cut the gap to the bottom two to just four points with three games to play.

Monday's home match with Aldershot has suddenly become just as significant as last week's with Burton.