JOHN Coleman had been bemoaning the fact his side hadn’t been awarded a penalty all season.

So, like buses, two came at once against Bury on Saturday.

However, they could not swing the game in Stanley’s favour and, despite being awarded the two spot kicks, Premiership referee Lee Probert is unlikely to be on Coleman’s Christmas card list.

The Stanley manager was sent to the stands by the Wiltshire official after one of a few contentious decisions during the foggy game - and the Reds chief could now face a fine.

A loose ball forward was raced onto by both Stanley new boy Gregg Blundell and Bury keeper Wayne Brown just outside the box.

The stopper and striker did tangle and Coleman felt the Reds should have had at least a free kick - but instead it went the visitors’ way.

"I have shown my frustration by kicking a ball which is normally a yellow card for players," he said after the game.

"I can’t really make any more comment though as I will get into trouble."

Coleman knows all about trouble after being sent to the stands at Chesterfield last season - and being handed a £750 fine and a two-match ban.

But being sat away from the dug-outs did at least mean he had to keep calm with other decisions infuriating the Reds’ bench against the promotion-chasing Shakers.

Bury defender Efe Sodje was the main villain as, after he mis-kicked a clearance, Blundell raced onto the loose ball and Sodje caught him in the penalty area on the stroke of half-time.

Bury were already 2-0 up and there was some eyebrows raised as referee Probert only showed Sodje a yellow card - as fellow defender Ben Futcher was also covering.

And then Bury had another let off as shot-stopper Brown took his penalty saves to three for a season as he dived the right way to keep out John Mullin’s strike.

"That was crucial, if that had gone in then I think we would have gone on and won the game," said the Reds boss.

And Sodje was against involved with Stanley’s second penalty 11 minutes from time. Through the ever-increasing fog it was hard to see why Probert gave it although both Ben Futcher and Sodje were sandwiching Paul Mullin, who ended up grounded, from a John Miles corner.

This time Jamie Clarke’s spot kick beat Brown to set up a nervy ending - but no cards were shown for the infringement.

"He (Sodje) had nine lives as he gave away the second penalty and, with him already being on a yellow card, I don’t think the referee wanted to issue a red," said Coleman.

"And when you see Paul Mullin being used as a step ladder and he gets the foul given again him, your frustation is going to come out.

"We were on the wrong end of the little things and we have been on the wrong end of them too many times this season."

But while the officials certainly riled the Stanley boss, he admitted his team weren’t at the races in the Lancashire derby.

He had brought in Blundell, from Darlington, who scored against the Reds for Chester and the Quakers, and 18-year-old Craig Mahon from Wigan to make up the numbers on loan deadline day last Thursday.

And Blundell could have been an instant Stanley hero after he raced clean through with just two minutes gone - but his shot was way off target with only Brown to beat.

Wideman Miles got the nod to start following his second half show at Chesterfield and he and Paul Mullin did try to make a breakthrough but neither could seriously test Brown.

It did get increasingly foggy as referee Probert swapped from a silver ball to an orange one and then back to silver as the conditions kept changing with fears the game could be called off with spectators struggling to see.

And Coleman may have then wished he was blind to a mad three minutes where the game was lost for the Reds.

There had already been a warning when one-time Stanley target Andy Bishop broke through and looped the ball over outrushing Kenny Arthur but also the goal.

But then Bishop should never have been allowed to get a cross in with both Chris King and Keiran Charnock trying to stop him but his persistance paid off and it fell for Michael Jones to head home unmarked at the far post from just two yards out.

Three minutes later it was 2-0 when a Hurst header set up Brian Barry-Murphy who slotted the ball past Arthur to open his account for the season.

Then came the red mist with Coleman’s sending off and the penalty miss and it promised to be a heated dressing room at half-time.

Coleman rearranged his backline and Stanley did come out pressing with Ben Futcher clearing twice off the line as the fog threatened to wipe out the view from the stands.

Rostyn Griffiths shot from distance and Ryan had a go but it was all to no avail.

Coleman put on loan men Mahon, who showed pace and some nice touches, and Jamie Clarke as they looked to claw back the deficit.

But Bury were still dangerous on the break especially winger Elliott Bennett who ran half the length of the pitch but his final effort was easy for Arthur. And Bury’s loan signing Dean Howell had a header kept out by Arthur with 15 minutes left.

Then Stanley were awarded a second penalty. Sub Clarke got it right this time with regular taker Andy Procter on the bench and it should have set up a barnstorming finish.

But Bury sat back and held on with Stanley never having beaten the Shakers in their League Two lives.

"We paid for a ten minute spell where we defender poorly and were punished," said Coleman, who saw his side’s four league game unbeaten run ended.

"We can play better than that and we didn’t play like I know we can in the first half.

"It got better in the second half but we were still a long way short of our best. We didn’t get our passing game going, we didn’t defend like we can and our delivery in wide areas wasn’t the best, although it did improve after the break.

"The frustrating thing is is that I don’t think Bury are better than us.

"No one means to miss penalties and John hit it well - maybe he needed it more in the corner - but their keeper has made a good save. That’s the turning point.

"Then we got it back to 2-1 and we huffed and puffed but we haven’t really worked their keeper enough. That’s the disappointing thing.

"We have just got to keep working hard and believe in ourselves and do not let our heads drop."