JOINT-manager Carl Heeley insists Worcester City are not a “dirty” team despite having one of the worst disciplinary records in the country.

Tyler Weir’s sending off against Tamworth last Saturday was City’s eighth of the season and meant they have received more red cards than any other team from the Premier League down to National League North and South.

After also picking up four bookings at The Lamb Ground, the Blue and Whites, who visit Southport in the FA Trophy first round tomorrow (3pm), have now reached 234 disciplinary points.

It is the second highest total in the division and eighth biggest out of the 162 clubs in the top six tiers.

Heeley said they were unhappy about the number of cards, which includes 37 cautions, they had been brandished but believed referees have not helped their cause.

“It is not acceptable and we want to improve in that area but when you compare us to Tamworth in the context of the game on Saturday I am struggling to see how the bookings are not more even,” he said.

“We have got into a situation where people look at our bookings and sending offs and come to the conclusion we are a very dirty side but we are not by any stretch of the imagination.”

After City’s 3-0 National League North defeat at Tamworth, Heeley said he had “no complaints” over Weir’s straight red card for bringing down Leon Mettam in the penalty area, but on second viewing admitted he had changed his mind.

“It was not a red card and it was not even a foul, so I don’t agree with the referee giving a penalty and sending a player off,” he said.

“However, it happened and I can’t blame him for that because he called it the same as I called it at the time, so that is where you just need that element of fortune and luck.

“If we are getting players sent off continually for fighting, it is a bigger issue but when you are getting sent off when it is proven to be unfortunate then there is nothing you can do about that.”

Heeley and Matt Gardiner have spoken “at length” with their players to try to stop them from letting their frustrations boil over on the pitch.

“We have been trying to address this since the start of the season and spoke again on Tuesday night about it but ultimately when they are on that pitch you can’t affect those things,” Heeley said.

“It is up to the players. You get to a point where you get fed up of talking as you want to see actions, so hopefully players will take on board what we are saying to them.”

City’s football secretary Joe Murphy said: “We have had zero contact with the FA regarding discipline.

“Obviously, we know it (the record) is not great but nobody has been in touch.”

 

WORCESTER CITY’S RED CARDS
Kieron Morris – Gainsborough T (a)

Ashley Vincent – Lowestoft Town (h)

Clayton McDonald – Solihull Moors (a)

Sean Geddes – Chorley (h)

Lee Hughes – FC United (a)

Geddes – Nuneaton Town (h)

Tom Sharpe – Stalybridge Celtic (a)

Tyler Weir – Tamworth (a)

 

RED CARDS TABLE NATIONWIDE

1 Worcester City 8

2 Gloucester City 7

= Stockport County 7

= Southport 7

3 Whitehawk 6

= Barrow AFC 6

4 Alfreton Town

5 = Curzon Ashton 5

= Sutton United 5

= FC United of Manchester 5

= Torquay United 5

= Northampton Town 5

= Bolton Wanderers 5

 

DISCIPLINARY POINTS TABLE

1 Sutton United 298 (including 61 yellows, 5 reds)

2 Eastleigh 260 (54 yellows, 4 reds)

3 Peterborough United 256 (52 yellows 4 reds)

4 Millwall 244 (56 yellows, 2 reds)

5 Mansfield Town 244 (53 yellows, 3 reds)

6 Barnsley 236 (56 yellows 1 reds)

7 Lowestoft Town 238 (46 yellows, 5 reds)

8 Worcester City 234 (37 yellows, 8 reds)

9 Notts County 232 (47 yellows, 4 reds)

10 Dover Athletic 232 (50 yellows, 3 reds)