'˜We won't be reining anyone in' - Cliff Byrne discusses Doncaster Rovers' disciplinary record

So said assistant boss Cliff Byrne ahead of tomorrow's home clash with Gillingham.

Rovers currently have the joint worst disciplinary record in League One along with Charlton Athletic and Fleetwood Town.

They have collected 33 yellow cards in 13 games in addition to Marko Marosi's red card against Portsmouth.

That represents a big shift after finishing last season with one of the cleanest records in the division: 62 yellows and no reds. 

Joe Wright is the latest player to have reached five bookings, following Ben Whiteman and Herbie Kane, and is banned for the visit of the Gills.

Andy Butler and Niall Mason are also walking the proverbial disciplinary tightrope on four bookings.

But Byrne says Rovers are not about to change their approach. 

'That's the way we play,' he said.

'We're a high intensity team and we get about the pitch after the ball.

'Occasionally we're going to pick up these bookings.

'But, as you've seen, when we've lost somebody to suspension we've got a ready-made replacement champing at the bit to step in and stake their claim for their place.

'We won't be reining anyone in.'

Fourth-placed Rovers hope to kick on with back-to-back home games against the Gills and then Sunderland, in front of what is likely to be an inflated Keepmoat Stadium crowd, on Tuesday.

'I do agree that if we get an extra however many thousand through the gate on Tuesday, and we can keep a percentage of them going into the next game, then it benefits the team and the football club,' said Byrne.

'But Saturday is the biggest game and the most important game.

'The Sunderland game is obviously one that everyone is looking forward to but we want to go into it on the back of a win.

'Gillingham have had a little bit of an indifferent start but in this league anyone is capable of beating anybody.

'We've got to make sure we're bang at it and hopefully we'll get a positive result.'