BRYAN HUGHES has defended Wrexham’s early season disciplinary record and doesn’t think the red cards are justified.

The Reds have suffered three dismissals in the opening seven games of the National League campaign.

Jake Lawlor was sent off for the second time in Monday’s 4-2 defeat against Hartlepool United when Bobby Grant returned to the side after serving a three match ban following his dismissal in the 1-0 loss at Dover.

Lawlor was shown a straight red card at Victoria Park following a foul on Jason Kennedy and Hughes was adamant it was the wrong decision.

“I didn’t think it was a red card at all,” said Hughes, who also saw Lawlor given his marching orders in the Reds' 1-0 win against Halifax on August 13.

“We have got three red cards this season and about 10 or 12 yellows, and I don’t think we have made a tackle.

“None of them have been justified in my eyes but we have got them.”

Hughes wants Wrexham to “play the officials” in matches and be “a bit cuter” so that decisions go in their favour.

“There were some strange decisions all the way through,” said Hughes.

“You have got to play the officials and I think other teams are playing them a bit cuter than what we are so we have got to be better at that.

“I am not one to see people being sent off but three already this season, it is just ridiculous.

“I don’t feel all three of them were potentially dangerous to the opposition.”

On Lawlor’s second red card of the season, which means he will begin a four match suspension when Wrexham face Stockport County at The Racecourse this afternoon, Hughes added: “There was no intent from Jake.

“He has gone down with two feet but he has won the ball.

“It is not as if he is high and their player has gone over, and done that game management where he has rolled around a few times and got Jake sent off.

“Anyone who knows Jake, he is not a malicious type of player anyway.

“The first one that he got red carded for where he has come across the player, you could probably say that was; he was the last man.

“This one he was going in for a tackle and I didn’t feel it was, especially with some of the tackles that went on the pitch. It was yellow at best.

“But the damage was done before that - we can’t give away silly goals.

“We can’t come away from home and expect to score five goals to win a game - that doesn’t work.”