RADCLIFFE Borough manager Danny Johnson is calling on his players to improve their discipline after Jamie Forbes’ red card on Saturday took his team’s tally to three in nine games.

The defender’s dismissal just before half-time in the 2-2 home draw against high-flying Brighouse Town follows reds for Callum Hoctor and Aaron Walters already this season.

Rejuvenated Boro, who are now unbeaten in four league games, had taken advantage of a Brighouse red card to lead 2-0 with Sam McMahon scoring from the spot following a foul on Steve Foster, and Tom Hulme netting his third goal of the season.

But when Forbes was also dismissed for a professional foul, Daniel Facey pulled a goal back just before half-time and Sam Hewitt netted a late equaliser.

Boro, who drew 1-1 with Bamber Bridge at the Belvoir Stadium on Tuesday with McMahon again on target, have now taken eight points from a possible 12 to move up to 17th place in First Division North, and Johnson feels the disciplinary issues need to be addressed before it costs the Evo-Stik League side crucial points.

“We’ve got a few disciplinary issues to deal with. It’s something we are looking to improve and I’m sure it will be sorted out quite quickly,” he said.

“We don’t instil or adopt a nasty approach to a football match. We’ve not got a dirty player in the team.

“Decisions have gone against us. We made six fouls all game on Saturday and ended up with one player sent off and three others booked. It’s ridiculous.”

Boro will look to continue their surge up the table with a trip to third-placed Glossop North End on Saturday, and Johnson is targeting a comfortable mid-table berth by early next year.

“We’ve played four of the top six teams so far and have been competitive in all the games,” he said.

“We are on a good run. It’s about maintaining that now for a long period to make sure by January/February time we are in the right position and not looking over our shoulder.

“We need to pick up another 30 points, which will be tough, but hopefully we can achieve it.”

With Boro’s defence strong, conceding just three goals in the last four games, Johnson was impressed with Foster and striker McMahon who has ended his goal drought with two in two games.

“I wanted Sam to take the penalty on Saturday so I was pleased to see him step up because he needed to get on the scoresheet,” he said. “Hopefully he can kick on from here.

“Foster has made a real difference for us but he’s another player who needs to sort his discipline out because he’s been booked four times in four games.”

albeit one from the spot.

“I wanted Sam to take the penalty on Saturday so I was pleased to see him step up because he needed to get on the scoresheet,” said Johnson.

“Hopefully now he can kick on from here.

“We have changed the shape of the team a little to suit a number of players and Foster has done a great for us in the four games he’s played. He’s really made a difference, but again he’s another player who needs to sort his discipline out because he’s been booked four times in four games.”