Centre-halves have to be competitive despite being one booking away from suspension.

Crewe Alexandra manager Steve Davis says his centre-halves Jon Guthrie and Harry Davis have to continue playing with great calmness as they walk a disciplinary tightrope. Both defenders have accumulated four bookings, which means that they are one caution away from a one-match suspension but Davis says that the defenders know to play with their brains.

Guthire was not risked on Tuesday evening against Chesterfield with Ben Nugent returning to the side for his third appearance of the season, as to make sure we were not a defender light for the visit of Plymouth Argyle this weekend.

Steve told crewealex.net: “The centre halves are on four bookings and we are not at the cut-off date yet, so they will have to play with their brains and try to avoid a booking.

“To be fair to them both I think they have been a bit unlucky with some of their bookings. You see to get booked very quickly in this division. They don’t seem to let one or two tackles go before they reach for the card.

“They have to remain committed but calm and these two are never rash. They play the game with their brains and read the game well. They don’t fly into things and I’ve said I think they have been a bit unlucky to have been booked so many times.

 Steve added: “I like that calmness in a defender and I’m sure they will continue to do what they have been doing. They have been excellent for us and the back five has been consistently the same for much of the season.”