ALAN Thompson is walking a disciplinary tightrope...seven weeks into the season.

The Wanderers midfield ace, whose form has been a revelation, is just one booking away from an automatic three-match suspension.

But Colin Todd sees the rash of yellow cards as a sign of the Geordie boy's commitment to the cause rather than a cause for complaint.

"It's very early to be so close to a ban after just ten games," the Burnden boss acknowledged, "but I think it shows how committed he is.

"None of his bookings have been for dissent, which is something I wouldn't be at all happy about. But Alan's playing in a position where he needs to be winning tackles and winning the ball and that's what he's doing.

"If he wasn't trying to do that, I'd be asking questions."

Thompson's booking at Wolves last week was his sixth yellow card in 12 games - one in the Coca-Cola Cup does not count against his league record - and assuming he receives a four-point penalty, he will be on 20 points, one short of an automatic ban.

Todd hopes the player can steer clear of trouble since his partnership in centre-midfield with Per Frandsen has been one of the major factors in Wanderers' barnstorming start to the season.

But he was philosophical about the prospect of having to handle personnel changes when he said: "You know somewhere down the line you're going to have someone injured or suspended. It's all part of the game." WANDERERS hit the trophy trail again tonight when Dean Crombie's Youth team travel to Farsley Celtic in the First Qualifying round of the FA Youth Cup.

The Burnden juniors, who beat Mansfield 3-0 in the last round, will have their strongest possible line-up on view against the non-leaguers.

Team: Glennon, Haley, Pryers, Hallett, McLeod, Holden, Corrigan, Doherty, Feeney, Potter, Minchella. Subs McCleave, Xiourouppa, Marsden.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.