CITY must cut down on the number of red cards, Phil Parkinson has warned.

Rory McArdle sits out tonight’s trip to Scunthorpe after his dismissal against Sheffield United at the weekend.

The centre half will also miss Saturday’s final home game because it was his second red card of the season – and the club’s eighth in total.

Parkinson insists City are not a dirty team but that figure has to come down.

He said: “Rory has probably been a bit unlucky on that one and we haven’t had too many for violent conduct, from what I can remember.

“We always clamp down on bookings for dissent and we’ve been pretty good on things like that.

“There hasn’t been a real lack of discipline in the team as such. But eight is too many from what we’ve had before, especially when we haven’t got the biggest squad.”

Gary MacKenzie and Gary Liddle, who was spared duty at Bramall Lane, are pushing to return against the Iron. But City will again have to cope without a wing threat.

Filipe Morais is still struggling with his right knee and Mark Yeates is facing an operation to sort out his on-going shoulder issue.

Parkinson added: “Fil’s knee is not quite right and hasn’t been for a while. We rushed him back after the Orient game but he’s never been totally comfortable.

“He had a pain-killing injection to get through the Bristol City game but it’s flared up since then.

“I don’t think it’s anything long term but we need to get it investigated further.

“We’ve a shortage of wide players and I’ve told Yeatesy it’s unlikely he will start again. We’ll probably just use him off the bench.

“He’ll see a specialist in the next three or four days about his shoulder and the likelihood is he will have an operation.

“The fact it came out twice in three days was a blow for him. He’s training fine but we’ve got to be careful with it.”

Chris Routis and James Meredith face late checks after picking up knocks in the Sheffield United draw.

Parkinson was encouraged by the response to last week’s thrashing from Bristol City and hopes to see more of the same.

“I thought it was a terrific effort. We put all those principles in place that have brought us success over the years.

“We’ve got back to doing those things well and played some good football. We need to maintain those standards.”

Scunthorpe are still lingering on the edge of the relegation battle, five points off the drop zone.

Parkinson said: “They are a decent side but it’s hard to get away when you’re down there because all the bottom teams have been winning. I’m so pleased we’re not involved in it.

“We might change it round again tonight and look at something different. I don’t think there’s any harm in doing that at this stage.”

Stephen Darby believes the City fans deserve a big effort over the remaining three games.

“We don’t just owe it to ourselves but them as well,” said the skipper. “The fans have backed us home and away in big numbers.

“The season has had some highs and lows. Ideally, we would have liked to be in the play-off mix but it’s not over yet and we need to finish as high as we can.”