CHORLEY manager Mark Patterson has apologised for his late sending off which left the Magpies down to nine men in their 2-1 defeat against North Ferriby last weekend.

Patterson admitted that, as a former professional, he should have known better than to react in a manner which resulted in him being sent for an early bath after the referee failed to award Chorley a blatant penalty.

But he said that it just summed up the passion in the Chorley camp.

"I've got to lead by example and it was a bad one to set the players," said former Blackburn and Bolton player Patterson, who was the second to be sent off in that match following Keith Hill's earlier dismissal.

"We should have had a blatant penalty on Saturday. I can't understand why the referee didn't give it.

"I don't normally criticise officials because they've got a job to do and for 90 minutes they do what they think's right.

"But a lot of frustrations came out during the game.

"It was a poor performance, players not sticking to the game plan and the officials were poor.

"I thought Keith Hill's first booking was harsh but his second was a booking.

"He's an ex-professional like myself and should no better."

But, putting Saturday's display to one side, Patterson says he has seen signs that Chorley are heading in the right direction ahead of tomorrow's trip to Stocksbridge PS.

"It was a poor performance on Saturday, probably as bad a performance I've seen since I've been here.

"But I would like to think it was down to the fact that we'd not played for 16 or 17 days.

"I'm still very confident because we'd played well around Christmas.

"Things look awful as far as the table's concerned.

"But I was in this position last season at Leigh and, over the last three or four weeks, I've seen a difference in our performances and self belief among the players."

Nevertheless, Patterson was maintaining his search for a new striker.

"I want to put more pressure on the players up there," he said.

"There's competition everywhere else on the pitch except up front, so hopefully I'll be able to strengthen that position over the next couple of weeks."

He added: "We need someone who can get hold of it for us.

"We've got the legs and experience with Andy Mason but he needs someone to play off.

"And I do believe that once we've got the players we'll do well.

"I'm just looking at the moment. I've spoken to the chairman - he knows what's required and we're just waiting for the right one."