MARK Hughes admitted City paid a heavy price for chasing the game as they blew the chance of hitting League Two’s top three for the first time.

The Bantams were well beaten 3-1 by promotion rivals Northampton - a fifth home league game without a win.

Hughes said: “I thought we started well enough and caused them a few problems, but we made a mistake for the opening goal and then compounded the situation by conceding another one within two or three minutes.

"At 2-0 down, you have still got to keep your discipline with the shape and work yourselves back into the game.

“But in the second half, we were guilty of over-committing on occasions and we were leaving guys one v one at the back and that's where your discipline comes in.

"You have got to have the right shape to mount attacks and build attacks and pressure and we did not get the part of our game right.

"We were guilty of chasing the game and if you don't do that in the right manner, there's a danger that you can be picked off going the other way.

“That's what happened and credit to Northampton, they are a good, strong side and are good at the top end of the pitch and retain possession and have people running hard from midfield.”

City, who were missing Romoney Crichlow with a calf injury, pulled one back in stoppage time. Andy Cook converted the penalty after he had been brought down to take his tally to 16 goals for the season.

But the damage had already been done in front of a 18,666 crowd - Valley Parade’s second biggest of the season.

Hughes added: “All the goals were avoidable and the second goal was a big setback and we will have to learn from it.

"Sometimes, at this level, you have days when you are not good enough and the opposition are better and we are honest enough to admit that today, the opposition were better than us.

"We will react and you will see a different performance on Tuesday.”