McPHAIL ADMITS RED CARD WOE

STEPHEN McPHAIL has told how his two sendings-off against Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium last season heralded the darkest moments of his football career.

McPhail, who was captain of rivals Cardiff City, was shown red cards twice in two months during the passion-fuelled derbies.

It led to him losing the skipper's armband, being ditched from the team and then fearing his days with the Bluebirds were numbered.

But after bouncing back this season with a string of top performances, the former Leeds and Barnsley star has vowed: "I won't change the way I play."

As he reflected on the 12 months that almost cost him his Cardiff career, McPhail, 29, said: "In both games at Swansea I felt I'd let the gaffer and the rest of the lads down.

"The red cards did knock me a bit. I lost my place in the side and I did worry. If you're not in the team then you are going to think about your future.

"I didn't know what was going to happen to me in the summer so I spoke to the gaffer.

"He assured me if I came back fit and strong then I'd have the same chance as anyone else."

That is exactly what McPhail did. And as he approaches a third trip to the Liberty with the Bluebirds in the thick of the promotion fray he is adamant he will still put in the challenges to ensure his side finish on top.

He said: "I've never changed my game in the past and I'm not going to try to change it now.

"Everyone knows what happened in the two games at Swansea last season but I'll keep making the tackles.

"If I end up getting another red card then so be it. There's not much I can do about that.

"You've got to try and win the ball if it's there to be won.

"I'm not a dirty player. I've never gone into a tackle looking to hurt someone. I will never do that.

"I always go in trying to win the ball. Unfortunately the referee saw things differently in those games at Swansea last season.

"Referees have a difficult job because they've got to make split-second decisions. I was just unlucky."

McPhail's Liberty Stadium misery began in the 1-0 Carling Cup loss in September 2008 when he was ordered off by Mike Riley after picking up a second booking for a lunge at Jordi Gomez.

He was dismissed again in the 2-2 league draw two months later, again for two yellow cards.

Martin Atkinson gave the player his marching orders for kicking the ball away just moments after Ross McCormack had fired Cardiff into a 2-1 lead.

And although he insists he is over what happened, McPhail admitted: "People still mention those red cards against Swansea to me.

"Whenever I bump into fans in the street they always bring the subject up.

"It is a head-scratcher. I still can't quite believe I got sent off in two games at the Liberty Stadium.

"I've got no answer for it and to be perfectly honest it's something I want to forget."

McPhail, set to face Nottingham Forest at the Cardiff City Stadium today, has already served a three- game ban this season after being sent off in the Bluebirds' 1-0 win at Reading in September.

The midfielder has also had another problem to overcome, with an operation to remove a lump from his neck.

Fortunately the surgeons have given him the all-clear after tests. Now he can concentrate on his football again - and keeping Cardiff on course for the Premier League.

In the 10 games he has played in this season City have won nine and drawn the other, scoring 28 goals.

McPhail added: "I wanted to show everyone I'm not here to make up the numbers and I think I'm doing that."

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