Assistant says it is vital we keep cool in the heat of the derby

Assistant manager Kenny Lunt says that the staff have already spoken to the squad about keeping their discipline ahead of this weekend’s derby clash at home to Port Vale.

The Alex have already seen three players sent-off this campaign with Olly Lancashire, captain Perry Ng and Paul Green all serving suspensions.

Lunt says that the squad accept that the red cards have probably cost us points.

He told the club’s official website: “We have spoken to the squad about the discipline. We have had three red cards and they know it has to be better.

“We know the importance of having 11 players on the pitch. If we had 11 on the pitch against Cambridge and Cheltenham then we would have had a good chance of winning those games.

“We may have missed those players when they were suspended as well, so it is vital that we keep our discipline and have everyone available every week.

He added: “It is about being clever and not doing anything rash when you are on a yellow card, like pulling someone back or chatting to the referee when you shouldn’t be. We hope they have learned their lessons from that and on Saturday it is important they shut everything out happening around them and concentrate on the game and their own job.”