NEIL YOUNG has criticised his players’ disciplinary record ahead of this weekend’s hastily arranged league match at Histon.
Antoni Sarcevic, Wes Baynes, and Dominic Collins have all picked up five bookings, but will be available for selection this weekend due to a two-week delay being served to their one-game suspensions.
Sarcevic and Baynes were both booked for the fifth time this season in the Blues’ FA Trophy replay defeat at Worksop last week and will miss next Wednesday’s scheduled home match against Corby Town.
Collins, who was booked in Sunday’s 1-0 victory at Gloucester City, will serve his one-game ban at Brackley Town on December 8.
And Chester striker Nathan Jarman and midfielder Scott Brown have both picked up four bookings ahead of the Blues’ match at Histon.
Young admitted he was far from happy about his team’s disciplinary record as he prepares his side for the weekend trip to Cambridgeshire.
“Our discipline so far this season hasn’t been great, but I have had a few words with the players about that situation and hopefully we’ll now see some improvement,” Young said.
“I feel we have been harshly treated on a lot of occasions by the match officials and that has been very frustrating.
“One example of that was when Dominic Collins slipped in Sunday’s match at Gloucester and picked up a booking which now sees him suspended for our match against Brackley.”
Young revealed he had been impressed with the manner in which his side had adopted a new 4-3-3 formation during Sunday’s 1-0 victory which featured a 65th minute winning goal from Jarman.
The win hoisted the Blues into second spot in the Conference North table, just two points behind leaders Brackley Town with two games in hand.
Young added: “One of the most pleasing aspects of Sunday’s victory was seeing us managing to keep a cleansheet, but I was also impressed with the way Antoni worked hard after being given the licence to find areas behind Nathan to carve out chances.
“We’ll be without Matty McGinn this weekend who is continuing to nurse his back injury, and Scott Brown and Dominic Collins are also carrying knocks, but I’m hoping we can build on last Sunday’s performance because I was very encouraged with the way we played after changing formation and making four changes from our previous match at Worksop.
“We did well against a Gloucester City side that had pushed Leyton Orient all the way to the line in an FA Cup tie just days before and whose home record so far this season had been very good.
“I’m hoping we can now push on and go on a good run of form to consolidate our position at the head of the league table.”
- Chester Supporters Club are organising coach travel to this Saturday’s match at Histon.
Coaches will depart the Exacta Stadium at 9.15am and seats will cost £20. Blues fans wanting to secure their place should call the Chester FC Ticket Office on 01244 371376 (10am-4pm).