McWilliams admits he's had to 'adapt' his game to avoid more red cards

Cobblers midfielder Shaun McWilliams admits he has had to 'adapt' his game slightly to avoid feeling the wrath of referees after his red card against Doncaster Rovers.

The 22-year-old was shown red by referee Graham Salisbury for a strong challenge on Joe Wright after just 18 minutes of last month's League One encounter at the PTS Academy Stadium.

Crunching into challenges and winning the ball back forms a major part of McWilliams' game in midfield for Northampton but he knows he must tread a fine line between being strong and reckless in his tackling.

"It has been a bit frustrating for me," said McWIlliams on BBC Radio Northampton. "If you look at the tackle, it is probably a red card in this day and age because my leg is straight and my studs are showing.

"But it's not two-footed and I'm not off the ground so how do you tackle in those situations? You can't bend your foot otherwise you'll put your ankle in danger.

"You just have to take into consideration the current rules and the situation we're in and you have to adapt and maybe rein it in a bit, that's just the way the game is now."

McWilliams has come back strongly from the subsequent three-game suspension, helping the Cobblers take four points from fixtures against Gillingham and Sunderland.

He continues to establish himself in the first-team after graduating through the club's academy, a path that striker Caleb Chukwuemeka is also hoping to tread.

"I have spoken to Caleb just in general really," McWilliams added. "I've been there at his age and when you're that young you are still developing.

"You can see his potential and what he can do but you don't shadow him too much because he has his own qualities he needs to show.

"But you want to help him feel more comfortable and give him little bits of advice. It's up to him whether he takes on the information but as someone who's been there, you can relate to it a bit more.

"It's just about having a general chat, sometimes about the games on the coach back and asking what he thinks, but I know when he puts on the shirt, he does everything he can to help us which is about driving us forward and being positive on the ball."