DAVID Hopkin cursed "basic defensive errors" as his home debut as City boss ended in a 2-0 loss to Charlton.

The Bantams head coach also felt his side were denied a penalty when Ryan McGowan was floored in the second half.

Hopkin said: “We should have had a penalty because his arm’s all over him. The fourth official and the linesman can see it – I just think some of the decisions were a wee bit baffling.

“We didn’t get anything that could have gone the other way. There were some strange things.

“I got a yellow card because my foot was over the white line. I thought (the ref) should be more interested in the game and giving penalties than chasing me and Greg (Abbott) for putting one foot on the pitch.

“I had to ask the fourth official for the referee to calm down a little bit because he was losing his composure on the game.”

Charlton struck after four minutes through Karlan Grant before Lyle Taylor made sure of their victory with a late second.

“It’s individual errors and you can’t coach that,” added Hopkin. “It’s basic defending.

“I thought we started very brightly and had one or two chances to score.

“But the first foray that Charlton get into our box, we show somebody inside on his good foot and we’re 1-0 down – then it’s very difficult.

“It gave us a mountain to climb and Charlton something to hang on to.

“We managed the game quite well from the middle third to attacking third.

“Then it was a case of chasing the game second half. But we let someone inside again and they score a sloppy second.”

But Hopkin was “delighted” with the commitment of his injury-hit team.

He said: “Young Lewis O’Brien was fantastic for his debut and Jim O’Brien again did great. Young Connor (Wood) did well again.

“Every player gives me everything. That’s what I ask for because we’re down to the bare bones.

“Hopefully in the next four or five weeks we’ll start getting players back and have a stronger squad.

“Up until then, we need to make sure the players we do have stay fully fit.”