Peterborough defender Nathan Thompson warned about his discipline ahead of Portsmouth reunion

The Blues travel to Peterborough in the Papa John’s Trophy on Tuesday (7pm kick off), with Posh boss Darren Ferguson feeling the need to remind his defender of his on-pitch responsibilities.

Thompson. who controversially left Fratton Park at the end of the 2018-19 season in search of Championship football, was sent off just after the hour mark in Peterborough’s 1-1 draw with Lincoln on Saturday.

He was booked for deliberate handball – but got his marching orders after already picking up a booking in the game.

It was his second red card of the season, with the former Blues right-back now forced to sit out this weekend’s visit of MK Dons to London Road.

And as Ferguson looks ahead to Peterborough’s run-in between now and the end of the season, he told the centre-back they can ill-afford to lose him with so many important games coming up.

Speaking to the Peterborough Telegraph, Ferguson said: ‘Nathan needs to improve his discipline.

‘He’ll know that and he won’t mind me telling everyone else.

‘He picks up too many unnecessary yellow cards. His first foul yesterday was needless as it happened 50 yards from our goal and the handball for the second yellow card and a penalty was obvious.

‘Just keep your arms down. (keeper) Christy Pym would have saved the shot anyway.

‘Nathan is such a good player and he’s vital to the way I want us to play as he brings the ball out of defence so well so I can’t afford for him to miss too many matches.’

Thompson’s dismissal on Saturday was the ninth of his career.

Two of those were in his first season at Pompey, seeing red against Luton and Swindon respectively.

The then right-back picked up 11 yellow cards that season, with another 11 following during the 2018-19 season.

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