I'm no bad boy!

A yellow card tonight would take Town's No 17, pctured, on to five cautions for the season.

It would automatically trigger a one-match ban, causing him to miss Saturday's FA Cup tie with Notts County.

A committed midfield display in one cup competition could therefore lead to exclusion in another.

Howard feels he has been harshly dealt with by referees this season and is worried that if he continues to be carded, he will eventually miss out on crucial games in the run-in.

The 21-year-old, who is desperate to start tonight, said: "I think I've been harshly done by.

"The first booking came up at Blackpool when the ref claimed I'd dived. Funny dive as I had stud marks all down my calf.

"On another occasion, against Oldham I think, one of their lads has just tripped over me yet out comes the book again.

"I do try and get stuck in but stuck in fairly.

"If the ball's there to be won you try and win it, simple as that.

"These bookings could cost me a big game though.

"I don't want to miss any games, including this one against Bristol City.

"If we beat them then we have a chance of winning the competition, why not?"

After Saturday's defeat at Chesterfield manager Andy King suggested his players need to stand up and be counted if drawn into a rougher dogfight during a match.

Others have pointed to Town's central midfield trio lacking in physical presence with six-footers Stefani Miglioranzi and Matt Hewlett both absent through injury.

While Howard accepts you can always work harder to win the ball, he feels Town should dictate the game to the opposition rather than be sucked into a physical battle.

The former Southampton man said: "It takes certain players to do certain things. If we've got better players why can't we pass round the opposition if they're running round like headless chickens?

"I don't know whether it's me being inexperienced but people say away from home you can't play the same away, you've got to flick it on and head it.

"It's the same 11 players, it's a football pitch. So what if people are shouting names at you. You should be able to block that out.

"Whether it's Wembley or a park pitch, we have to get the ball down to succeed."