Ciaran Clark has moved to defend Aston Villa's disciplinary record this season by insisting that it is reflective of the united spirit within the squad.
The 25-year-old defender received two bookings in the 1-0 defeat at Leicester City earlier this month for what was the Villans' fifth red card of the campaign.
Clark's second yellow came when he grappled with Matty James following the latter's challenge on Jores Okore, with Villa later fined £60,000 for the incident.
It was the third time this season that the club has received a financial sanction from the Football Association.
"We are a tight team. We don't want to see anyone getting hurt or left alone so we stick up for each other," Clark told reporters. "It shows we are all fighting for each other and all it in together.
"It's not just one man on their own here. We are a team and when tackles go in like that against your mate it's not nice to see. In the heat of the moment you react in a certain way.
"I wanted to let my frustration go [at Leicester] but I let it get the better of me. I didn't raise a hand but I reacted in an aggressive manner, which is a booking these days."
Paul Lambert's side, who sit 15th in the Premier League table, two points above the relegation zone, face Bournemouth in the FA Cup on Sunday.
Shane Callaghan
