City's play-off hopes have been blighted by some miserable home displays, but the hardy faithful who braved the sub-zero temperatures were rewarded with a spirited effort which brought to an end a run of four successive league and cup defeats.
Paul Merson's Walsall outfit arrived late because of traffic hold-ups and their plans were thrown into disarray by two City strikes in the space of six minutes.
The visitors' 4-5-1 line-up frustrated the Bantams for almost half-an-hour, but it was finally undone by a stunning free-kick from midfielder Marc Bridge-Wilkinson.
Replacement referee Scott Mathieson ruled Anthony Gerrard's foot too high as he challenged Danny Cadamarteri just outside the Walsall box and Bridge-Wilkinson made the most of the opportunity to send a superb right-foot shot beyond the flailing keeper.
City's next chance was gift-wrapped by Walsall full-back Craig Pead whose wayward pass went straight into the path of the lurking Cadamarteri. With only keeper Joe Murphy to beat the City striker lost control on the edge of the box and the chance went begging as the Walsall defenders scrambled back.
Bridge-Wilkinson hadn't found the net since September and it was another unlikely source who extended City's advantage.
Winger Bobby Petta answered his critics when he latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the Walsall box and fired a skidding left-foot shot beyond the unsighted Murphy.
Merson was forced to push Ishmel Demontagnac up front alongside Jorge Leitao and he showed some neat touches without really threatening.
In fact without the highly-rated Matty Fryatt leading the line the Saddlers created few openings and City's only real scare came when keeper Donovan Ricketts was left clutching his arm after he helped block a close-range Michael Standing effort on the goal-line.
Standing directed a free-header straight at Ricketts soon after, but City always looked comfortable and they could even have added to their tally with a bit more composure.