ASSISTANT manager Steve Parkin felt referee Seb Stockbridge was wrong on two penalty counts during City’s 1-1 draw with Port Vale.

The visitors scored first through a disputed spot-kick by Chris Lines after Rory McArdle was adjudged to have handled a shot by Louis Dodd.

City then thought they should have had a penalty of their own after Gary Liddle appeared to be knocked down inside the Vale box. But referee Seb Stockbridge awarded the free-kick just outside.

Parkin said: “Now linesmen are called assistant referees it would have been nice to have had a bit of help from him. The guy was stood directly in line with it but said nothing.

“We also thought the penalty was harsh. I’m not sure how Rory McArdle could get out the way.

“We teach our defenders to get blocks in and keep their arms down if they can. We want them to be brave and get in front of the ball.

“It was obviously a genuine effort to block the ball and should never have been a penalty.

“What happens in both boxes determines what happens in football matches and I think we came off second best.”

Mark Yeates scored City’s equaliser with a superb free-kick just before half-time. It is the first league point at Valley Parade since the opening day.

Parkin added: “The last thing you want is a bad decision to rock you on your heels. But we showed character and the second half was more like the Bradford City we know.”