David Wetherall will miss his first league game for 11 months after receiving a fifth yellow card in City's loss to leaders Luton.

The influential skipper, who has made 42 consecutive appearances, is banned for the trip to Walsall on Saturday.

Lewis Emanuel is also out after reaching the disciplinary limit, while Steve Schumacher is only one booking away from a two-match ban.

Wetherall, booked by Uriah Rennie for a second-half foul on Luton midfielder Ahmet Brkovic, has never been suspended for City before.

He said: "I was hoping to get through to the end of the month when the amnesty comes in to give me a bit of breathing space. It's a shame but these things are part and parcel of the game.

"Looking back at the five bookings, there haven't been any stupid ones that could have been avoided."

Wetherall can play at Blackpool tomorrow night as City look to hang on to the play-off pack with another victory on the road.

"We've got to make sure there is no hangover in any shape or form from Saturday. We played pretty well against the top team but came away with nothing.

"Take out the first 20 minutes and there was nothing in the game - and that's being kind to Luton. But if we can start tomorrow as we did the second half in positive vein then it will give us a good chance of getting the result we need."

City's tenth league game without a home win equalled an unwanted club record set between April and September 1963.

But they can count themselves unlucky after Steve Schumach-er's late shot hit the inside of the post.

Colin Todd said: "It's a shame we haven't made use of our home form. It's something we've questioned.

"But I was encouraged with the second half and we did everything except get a little break.

"We pestered a very good side without getting the reward.

"The teams around us won, which didn't help, but until we're out of it all together we will keep battling on for the play-offs. There is enough character in the side."