MICHAEL Clegg admitted aspects of his Warrington Rylands side’s goalless draw at Ashton United have left him feeling “bitter.”

Blues have now not won in four games either side of the new year and were frustrated again on Saturday but remain second in the Northern Premier League Premier Division table.

However, it may well have been so much better had Blues been awarded one of the three penalties their manager believes they should have had at Hurst Cross.

Two decisions from referee Liam Corrigan in particular incensed the visitors – a free kick was awarded in first-half injury time despite the foul on Ben Hardcastle appearing to take place inside the area while Clegg was also aggrieved play was not brought back to a foul on Mo Touray in the box in the second half after Adamah Sidibeh went on to hit the post.

“Their keeper has got man of the match and on another day, we should have three penalties,” Clegg said.

“I’ve never heard of someone getting hacked down in the box, the opposition player getting booked for it and they play the advantage but don’t come back for the penalty. I didn’t even know that was a rule.

“I thought we were better in the first half and they came into it in the second, but we should have had three penalties today.

“The one on Ben Hardcastle that he’s given as outside the box – I don’t know what he’s seen there.

“There’s one where the keeper comes out and flattens DJ Pedro without getting a touch to it – anywhere else on the pitch, it’s a foul and a blatant yellow card.

“I feel a little bit bitter to be honest as we should have had three points, but as the clock starts ticking away at Ashton which is a tough place to come, you end up being happy with a point.”

Blues have not won since their impressive victory at league leaders Radcliffe on December 16, with this stalemate adding to similar results against Marine and Atherton Collieries alongside the home loss to Macclesfield on New Year’s Day.

While he insists there is no panic about his side’s form, Clegg believes an element of “playing it safe” has crept into the squad.

“We’ve not won since Radcliffe but there’s 100 per cent no crisis,” he said.

“Managers are happy with a point against us which is credit to us and where we are, but I think too many of our lads have looked at the league table and have started playing it safe.

“We’re a team who should be good on the eye and taking risks, but we’ve started settling for points.

“We’re in a good place, but we need to get back to winning ways. On another day, we could have won the game and we’ve been a bit unlucky.”