CAPTAIN Steven Caldwell is adamant that Burnley's recent disciplinary record is not a cause for concern.

John Spicer's red card at Ipswich made him the third Clarets midfielder to be sent off in just two games, following last week's dismissals of Chris McCann and Joey Gudjonsson against Preston.

And the decision to give the 24-year-old his marching orders for a challenge on Jonathan Walters has prompted Caldwell to fear for the physical side of the game.

"At the time I never thought it was a sending off. He didn't jump in with two feet and I felt quite aggrieved for him," said Caldwell.

"I haven't seen a replay of it, but I felt the players' reaction led to him getting sent off more than anything.

"I'm not necessarily pointing the finger because I think if it had been the other way we would have reacted in the same way. So maybe all of us as professionals need to have a look at ourselves and stop making big things out of tackles and incident.

"The sad fact for me, especially playing at centre half, is that you can't actually tackle in modern day football. You soon won't be able to make any type of challenge.

"Certainly, when dangerous tackles happen, then stamp down on it. But it's going to become like a game of chess where there's lot of pace and agility and people just shadow round each other for 90 minutes.

"That's taking away a side of the game that I enjoy."

Spicer is now set to miss the next three games, along with Gudjonsson, who was found guilty of stamping' on Preston's Neil Mellor in last week's appeal.

McCann has two games of his three-match ban for a two-footed tackle remaining, but Caldwell added: "Our discpline isn't something that worries me at all, and it's not something that the gaffer has addressed.

"We're not a dirty team or over-aggressive team. In fact, we could probably be more aggressive. And Spicer's sending off was a poor decision in my opinion."

On a positive note, Caldwell was delighted at ending a two-month injury lay-off with a clean sheet and a point at Portman Road.

"It's great to be back playing and it was a great game to come back into," he said. "It was a physically hard game, but I feel great.

"Unfortunately it never quite went the way we want it to go because it was a decent game up until the referee sending off Spice. That changed the whole complexion of the game.

"But I'm delighted with the clean sheet and delighted we came through the game. It felt like a win at the end.

"It was a great thing to hold out for so long with 10 men and get that point."

And Caldwell is confident the squad, albeit depleted, can pull on all of its resources for the Boxing Day showdown with Sheffield Wednesday at Turf Moor (kick-off 3pm).

"It's funny how you seem to get injuries or suspensions in the same position or same area, but that's what the squad's for. It's important you have that competition."