STUART McCall has hit back at suggestions his Bradford City players play-acted during their 0-0 draw against Wanderers.

Phil Parkinson was annoyed at the actions of some of the Bantams players – in particular midfielder Josh Cullen – who had been “throwing themselves on the floor” to earn decisions from referee Mark Heywood.

Mark Marshall was cautioned for simulation late in the game after appealing for a penalty under a challenge from two defenders.

McCall, whose side remain unbeaten this season, denied his players had been trying to cheat the Cheshire official and countered that his side had been the victims.

“I think that’s hugely unfair,” he told The Bolton News. “The physical aspect – I was a midfield player so I won’t whinge about it – but some of the challenges on (Josh) Cullen were

poor.

“There wasn’t any play-acting, we don’t want to play-act or waste time.

“Mark Marshall is adamant he got taken out and that it was a penalty kick.

“There were some meaty challenges and we were on the end of a few. For Cullen to carry on like that, with the treatment he got, is a testament to the kid, his bravery and his desire.”

Parkinson believes Marshall’s late appeal for the penalty may have been successful had the referee not reached the end of his tether.

“I felt from the first whistle they were throwing themselves to the floor and it’s frustrating,” he said. “One particular example, which got Vela booked, if he (Cullen) hadn’t have been so theatrical he wouldn’t have been booked.

“Marshall threw himself to the floor to try and get a pen. I said to their assistant ‘if you hadn’t been diving all afternoon you might have got it’.

“It was a theme running through the game that every time someone went near them they threw themselves to the floor.

“Every time there was a challenge, there was a Bradford player rolling on the floor. It isn’t what you want to see because it was a good, competitive game and both sets of supporters were great.

“What you need in a game like that is for refs to identify it and he probably did as the game wore on. I think he realised what was happening as the game wore on and that probably cost them a penalty.

“It’s disappointing to see but we’ll move on from it.”

Despite the disagreement, McCall was complimentary about Wanderers’ chances in League One this season and believes they will be among the promotion candidates when they visit Valley

Parade in February.

“You look at the squad Bolton have got, the strength defensively, we would like to have created a few more problems,” he said. “It was a good point. I’d rather have a 3-3 than a 0-0 but both sides defended strongly.

“Our aim, is to turn some of the draws into wins. We can mix it up at places like this but we've got players who can open sides up and we have to use them.

“We’ll do our best and if we’re in the mix at the end of the season, that’s the aim. But I am sure Bolton will be."