The Bantams prevented MK Dons going top of the table with a come-from-behind victory and now head into a fifth-round FA Cup clash with Premier League Sunderland on the back of a first league win of 2015.
Dele Alli punished a Jordan Pickford error to put the Dons ahead but City hit back with goals from Billy Clarke and James Hanson to move into the top six.
And the all-round performance from the Bantams, which came two days after they conceded a stoppage-time equaliser against Port Vale, delighted their boss.
"The energy levels of the lads was outstanding," he said.
"You wouldn't have known we had a game two days before. The positivity and energy in our play tonight was great.
"I think after what happened Saturday it can knock you. I said to the lads we can't let that affect us.
"It's a big week and we've started it off in a good fashion. It's a fantastic week for the club now.
"We won tonight and can really enjoy the build-up now and go out on Sunday and play with confidence. We've got nothing to lose and everything to gain."
Goalkeeper Pickford started after winning an appeal against his sending-off at Port Vale on Saturday and recovered from his error to make a stunning save from Carl Baker late on.
"That was a top-class save and it was a big moment in the game for us," said Parkinson.
"We appealed his sending-off on Saturday more on a point of principle. He got sent off against Rochdale and we didn't appeal it as he was missing a cup game anyway. It was never a sending-off and I didn't want two red cards against his name at this stage of his career so we appealed it and we won."
Dons boss Karl Robinson was not happy with that decision - "I don't know how that got overturned" - but it paled in comparison to his feelings on the pitch and referee Paul Tierney.
Robinson felt Jon Stead had handled the ball in the build-up to Bradford's winner.
He said: "I'm sick of it. I've not come out and said anything about any referee (but) that's two games on the spin now. The refereeing has to be better. I've just been to see him there and he said he didn't think it was deliberate."
On the playing surface, he added: "They have a way of playing on this pitch, obviously we don't have that. The ball just didn't move.
"Even Dele had one of his worst games. Every time he tried to run with the ball it hit him on the thigh.
"They were better than us playing on this pitch. They have players better (suited) to deal with that. It's as simple as that."
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