Calum Kavanagh's second half strike was enough to send Bradford home from Brunton Park with three points.
Mike Williamson started six of his January signings in what was the first home game of 2025 following last week's postponement against MK Dons.
And it was the new-look United side which started as the brighter team, keeping comfortable control of the ball in the opening ten minutes.
Bradford should have gone ahead with 12 minutes on the clock. Kavanagh got a cross in from the left but somehow the unmarked Alex Pattison sent his effort from the penalty spot wide of the post.
United got the first corner of the game on the 20 minute mark which Bradford struggled to clear before a flicked header from Joe Hugill was cleared off the line.
The Blues continued to press, Stephen Wearne found Jordan Jones in space on the left with a lovely flick. United's wing-back got a cross into the box but Embleton's shot went just over the bar.
Just before the break, Bradford had another good chance to go ahead. Pattison put a deep cross into the box which Pointon met at the back stick but Breeze was equal to the header and pushed it away.
HALF-TIME: United 0-0 Bradford
In the opening minute of the second half, Ben Barclay sent a fantastic ball forward for Joe Hugill. His touch was good, but the shot was blocked behind for a corner which Bradford cleared.
Shortly afterwards, Kadeem Harris did well to get past his man on the right, he got a good cross into the box but Embleton couldn't get the ball under control to get the shot away.
Bradford took the lead with 54 minutes on the clock when Pattison's cross was met by Kavanagh who prodded home.
With an hour gone, Embleton slid the ball into the box for Hugill to run onto, his left-footed effort drew a save out of Sam Walker in the Bradford net.
Walker was in action again with 88 minutes on the clock when Harris unleashed a powerful effort towards the bottom corner. The Bradford keeper was equal to it and then came out to claim the resultant corner.
United had a lot of pressure in the final stages but couldn't create a clear-cut chance to earn themselves a point.
FULL-TIME: United 0-1 Bradford
Teams:
United - Breeze, Lavelle, Jones, Hugill, McArthur, Barclay (Ellis 69), Wearne (Scott 68), Harris, Patching (Fusire 69), Whelan, Embleton (Harper 75).
Unused subs - Lewis, Hayden, Dudik.
Bradford - Walker, Halliday, Richards, Smallwood, Kavanagh (Leigh 90) Sarcevic, Baldwin (Johnson 82), Pattison, Kelly, Pointon, Shepherd.
Unused subs - Doyle, Khela, Wright, Mellon, Lapslie.
Goals:
United - N/A
Bradford - Kavanagh (54)
Yellow cards:
United - McArthur (34)
Bradford - Sarcevic (76), Richards (87)
Match officials:
Referee - Benjamin Speedie
Assistant Referee 1 - Joseph Pettitt
Assistant Referee 2 - Lewis Raper
Fourth Official - Richard Aspinall
Attendance:
8,399 (1391 away)
