CHRIS Routis wants to thank Filipe Morais for his tips on how to play midfield by avenging the City winger’s red card.

Routis has appreciated the help that room-mate Morais has given him since recently being converted from a centre half.

The Frenchman said: “I like Fil a lot and we are in the same room every time the team play away.

“He gave me a lot of advice before my first game (in midfield) and helped me to stay calm. He told me that I was a good player and can play in that position – you just have to run a lot!

“At Notts County, he said that I could talk to him during the game. In the first half, he was on the bench but was shouting ‘c’mon Chris make a run’.

“I think he is a really good player and I need to learn the position from him to get better.”

Routis is set to get another chance against Fleetwood this afternoon as Morais begins a three-match ban for his FA Cup dismissal. He was shown a straight red by referee Mike Jones for a high-footed challenge on Reading midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah.

Routis added: “I don’t think it was a red card because he did not see the player. You could see on the video that he looked at the ball.

“Maybe the ref thought the same because he took out the yellow card at first. It was the Reading player’s big reaction which is why he showed the red.”

Routis was gutted that City’s epic cup run ended in such timid fashion in Monday’s quarter-final replay.

“In my opinion, we were scared,” he said. “If we’d played like that against Chelsea, maybe they would have won 6-0.

“We didn’t have the pressure playing Chelsea and it was the same against Reading. So we were very disappointed in the dressing room.

“But now we’re focused on the league maybe that’s a good thing (to be out of the FA Cup). I’d rather finish in the top six than go to the semi-final.”

Rory McArdle felt the stewards could have done more to control Reading’s pitch invasion at the final whistle.

The City players had to wade through home fans goading the away end so they could say thanks to the travelling support.

McArdle said: “I was walking across with Darbs (Stephen Darby) and told him to watch himself. I was a bit surprised how close the fans got.

“I’ve played in a game for Rochdale at Peterborough before when the fans ran on the pitch and one of our players got knocked out.

“I’ve run on the pitch as a fan at Hillsborough before, so I know what it’s like.

“But as we were walking over, we were still getting through the Reading fans and they were gesturing at us.

“Usually when you see that, they get pushed back to halfway and there’s a line of stewards to keep them there. Maybe it could have been controlled better.

“But if you’re a steward and have got four or five men screaming at you, you’re not going to play hero.

“We wanted to show our appreciation and the lads couldn’t all get together.”