Threat of ban affected me, says Crewe's Lee Bell

Bell started all of Crewe's league games up until his ban

Crewe Alexandra midfielder Lee Bell says the threat of receiving a one-match ban affected his game.

Bell picked up a suspension after receiving his fifth booking of the season and missed last Saturday's 3-3 draw at Stockport as a result.

"You play normally but you are careful of what you're doing," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"You're very wary of what you're doing, obviously how you're approaching referees and little things."

He added: "I'm a little bit relieved and just hope I don't get to 10 [yellow cards] now."

Ten bookings would see Bell, 27, miss two games and having started every game up until the draw at Edgeley Park, he is aware of his value to manager Dario Gradi.

It might be hard to get in the automatic promotion places but we're definitely in and around the play-offs, where we want to be

Lee Bell

"I think it's important that Dario has a full set of players to select from," he added.

"The club prides itself on good discipline so it's something I need to address as well,."

Crewe currently sit ninth in League Two, two points off a play-off spot and while Bell says the team would like to be higher, he is pleased that they are still in the promotion mix.

"We're a little bit behind where we'd want to be but we're still in touch," he said.

"It might be hard to get in the automatic promotion places but we're definitely in and around the play-offs, where we want to be."