Asante Kotoko coach Steven Pollack wants to respect the referee's penalty decision in Sunday's 1-1 stalemate with arch-rivals Hearts of Oak in the Ghana Premier League.

The Porcupine Warriors were the beneficiaries of Dally Gagba's controversial handball call as Sadick Adams converted to restore parity on 83 minutes.

The game marked Kotoko's return to competitive action since their fatal accident on July 12.

“If you look at the chances, in the first half, they [Hearts] had two and we had two and in the second half, they had one, we had a penalty," Pollack said.

"Is it a penalty? It doesn’t matter, the referee has given a penalty so I can’t say it wasn’t or it was.

"I just want to say I’m proud of my players - the attitude they showed today, especially in the second half.

“After what happened, I knew it was going to take time to get into the game and have a goal in the second half.

"I’m proud of them; the attitude, desire and passion to come back and get a point. I am very happy.

"I also want to thank the supporters. They came out in hundreds.”

Sunday's encounter was the 106th league meeting between the two sides.

The Porcupine Warriors still trail, having won 33 of those games as against Hearts' 35.

The remaining 38 matches ended in deadlocks.