Walsall Head Coach Matthew Taylor has spoken to the local press and called upon club captain Joss Labadie to be 'cleverer' as he prepares to return from suspension.
Joss sat out last weekend’s defeat to Harrogate Town after picking up his fifth booking of the season a week earlier, and has been asked to avoid another ban, as the team can ill afford to be without their leader.
The former Newport County man missed three games earlier in the campaign after a straight red card, and Taylor insisted he will not stand for any more as he looks to halt an unwelcome run of defeats.
Speaking via the Express & Star, Matthew said; "He’s got to learn. In no uncertain terms, I’ve told him this is his last suspension.
Joss sat out last weekend’s defeat to Harrogate Town after picking up his fifth booking of the season a week earlier, and has been asked to avoid another ban, as the team can ill afford to be without their leader.
The former Newport County man missed three games earlier in the campaign after a straight red card, and Taylor insisted he will not stand for any more as he looks to halt an unwelcome run of defeats.
Speaking via the Express & Star, Matthew said; "He’s got to learn. In no uncertain terms, I’ve told him this is his last suspension.
"He’s too important to the squad. If that means Joss has to tone down the way which he plays, he has to do that.
"It’s a difficult one because we obviously don’t want to take that combative edge away. But he’s got to be cleverer. Not all of his bookings have been for tackles.
"I’ll go with a booking for a tackle, no problem, but Joss needs to be cleverer. With the way he plays and how vocal he is, sometimes he stands out.
"We’ve seen previously that it maybe goes against him. So, he’s got to be cleverer on the pitch. This has to be his last suspension."
Labadie arrived at Banks's in the summer bringing with him something of a reputation for bookings, having picked up an impressive forty-seven cautions in five seasons at Rodney Parade.
Taylor went on to reveal how Joss responded to his recent criticism, admitting that the 31-year-old admitted it was time for his to stand up and be counted.
Taylor added; "He said something along the lines of ‘I’ve probably needed this'. I don’t want to take anything out of his game, but there’s different ways he can be just as effective – without losing that edge.
Labadie arrived at Banks's in the summer bringing with him something of a reputation for bookings, having picked up an impressive forty-seven cautions in five seasons at Rodney Parade.
Taylor went on to reveal how Joss responded to his recent criticism, admitting that the 31-year-old admitted it was time for his to stand up and be counted.
Taylor added; "He said something along the lines of ‘I’ve probably needed this'. I don’t want to take anything out of his game, but there’s different ways he can be just as effective – without losing that edge.
"What Joss has got to do is play cleverer. Joss is 31 years old. We’re not talking to a player who’s 18 or 19, just at the beginning of learning their trade.
"Joss has to make sure, however he does it, he plays on the edge but is more sensible. He sets the tone on a matchday and leads at the training ground.
"We now need him to lead the team by being more disciplined."