David Wetherall played the second half at Barnsley with concussion.

Colin Todd revealed the City skipper was feeling dazed after a clash of heads during the televised clash on Monday.

But he is confident that Wetherall, who also needed four stitches for a wound later in the game, should be fit to face Tranmere at Valley Parade.

Todd said: "We got a message from Peter Atherton saying the skipper was concussed and wasn't quite with it. It happened in the first half but he was all right at half-time and seemed to come through.

"Maybe it might have been one of the reasons why we weren't able to hang on for the victory. Having the four stitches didn't help, either.

"But I hope he will be all right for Saturday and I don't see there being a problem. David has been consistent in every game and his partnership with Mark Bower has been very important to us."

Wetherall, who got a touch on the free-kick which led to Barnsley's late equaliser, has missed only one of the last 50 league matches at the heart of City's defence. It is a far cry from the injury problems that had plagued him since the second season in the Premiership.

Bournemouth edged back above City last night with a draw at bottom club Stockport. But Todd maintained morale in the camp remains high despite letting another two-goal lead slip.

The players were back in for training yesterday and Todd said: "The good thing about it is that we're all disappointed we haven't won an away game.

"We're frustrated with a draw, as we were at Bristol City. And to me that shows we are on the right track.

"But you get over these disappointments and have to look forward. We have a period of very important matches coming up starting with the Tranmere game at home."