MARK Bower is looking for some home comforts coming up after he was left to bemoan referring decisions that he felt went against his Bradford (Park Avenue) side in their derby defeat at Farsley Celtic.
The Avenue boss branded the award of Farsley's penalty 'a joke' as his side fell to a 1-0 loss in the Vanarama National League North.
Will Hayhurst converted the first-half spot-kick following a Jordan Windass handball, but Bower felt its award was controversial.
Despite the result, Bower says he can take plenty of positives from the derby clash for his side including how his players dealt with the threat of Farsley forwards Jimmy Spencer and former Bradford City striker James Hanson.
Avenue will now look to bounce back with two homes games. They host Marine in the FA Trophy second round this Saturday and return to league action when they entertain Brackley Town on December 4.
Speaking after the Farsley defeat, Bower said: "I don't think we deserved to lose the game.
"We were undone by some unfortunate, poor, don't know what the word is, refereeing decisions in the game.
"Difficult pitch, difficult surface. They have two really good centre forwards in Hanson and Spencer. They will always cause you problems.
"We dealt with their physicality of them really, really well.
"When we got the opportunity, we moved the ball well.
"For the first 65-70 minutes of the game we caused them problems. We just lacked that final ball.
"We should not have to be chasing the game because the penalty decision is a joke of a decision. Hanson coming back stick, a blatant two-handed shove in his back. He gives the handball, plenty of other decisions going against us during the game.
"I think we've been on the rough end of some refereeing decisions that have gone against us today. The lads gave us everything. Stood up really well to the physical tests their players provided.
"We were causing them a few problems. It's a difficult one to take.
"Back at home for a couple of games now and we take plenty of positives from today and previous home games and hopefully start a little run."
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