A frustrated Ian McParland labelled the goals his Notts County side conceded at Bradford City yesterday afternoon were 'stupid'.

Peter Thorne bagged a hat-trick as the Bantams claimed a 3-0 win over McParland's side, leaving the Magpies with four defeats from their last five outings.

McParland said: "I am very disappointed, especially the goals we gave away - they were stupid.

"We rode our luck a bit in the first-half with a few chances they had, but we also had a few chances without sticking the ball in the net or getting shots away."

McParland lamented the second goal more than any other, as Thorne's sweeping finish unmarked from a near-post corner virtually settled matters despite half-an-hour to go.

After starting the half brightly McParland felt if Notts had only remained a goal behind they had every chance of getting back into the game - and that goal more than any other had McParland seething.

"We came out for the second half and started off bright, then we gave a corner away, people switch off doing their marking and from there-on it was an uphill struggle," he said.

"The players know their jobs for set-pieces and who to pick up, but they switch off and before you know it, it was 2-0.

"If we had kept it at 1-0, we would have been in with a chance. Even though I felt they were a better team than us, at 1-0 we had a chance. As for the third, we were a little naïve and we were punished."

Next up for McParland's men is a home encounter with Chester City, and McParland admitted that it is a game his side have to win.

He admitted: "It will be tough, tough game, but we have to win it."

To hear the full post-match reaction from Ian, and goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington, log onto Magpie World right now. Reaction from new signing Ali Gibb will follow on Monday.