The fireworks could be heard outside the Highfield Road stadium, but there were none to speak of inside the ground during a dull first half.
Under-fire Bradford boss Nicky Law had sent his side out in defensive mood and they were getting men behind the ball every time Coventry won possession.
The plan was certainly working early on as the home side struggled to create a clear-cut chance, as the Bantams did well to keep player-boss Gary McAllister quiet in midfield.
Graham Barrett went close on five minutes when he snatched at a shot from the edge of the box but the visitors began to take control.
Andy Gray almost latched on to Michael Branch's flick but he was denied a shooting chance by a well-timed saving tackle from Richard Shaw.
Bradford forced a series of corners midway through the first half but the Sky Blues' back-line stood firm and the visitors rarely troubled Pegguy Arphexad.
One cross from Nicky Summerbee did see the French keeper spill the ball into the danger zone but Shaw was on hand to clear.
At the end, Coventry were limited to two shots from the edge of the box from Michael Doyle just before the break, but both times he was off target.
The Sky Blues stepped up their game in the second half but for all their territorial advantage they failed to trouble Alan Combe in the Bradford goal.
Patrick Suffo fired wide just a few minutes after the restart before his header was deflected wide from a Mo Konjic's cross.
Dele Adebola was introduced as a substitute midway through the half and his aerial presence caused Bradford problems, but all too often his knockdowns fell the wrong side of his team-mates.
Dean Windass almost won it for the visitors at the death, but he headed over when he was left free in the box.