Shrewsbury boss defends not substituting Ian Black before sending off

The Town boss spoke to the 30-year-old midfielder yesterday after Black's dismissal for two yellow cards saw him sent off in Tuesday's 3-1 defeat against Walsall.

Black is now suspended for Monday's FA Cup second-round tie at Grimsby.

Mellon's decision not to take the former Scotland international off has been criticised on social media.

But the Town boss defended his stance and reckons the ex-Rangers midfielder should have shown more restraint in the incidents which got him booked – throwing the ball away and then lunging with his foot up at Paul Downing.

"He's just got to know his responsibility to his team-mates because in that challenge (on Downing), he let us down," said Mellon.

"I think he knows that moment was massive in the way the game went. I absolutely know he'll be feeling the pain for that.

"You can be clever about it, so there's no excuse."

As regards not substituting Black, the Town boss said: "It's always difficult because we're dealing in hindsight and if we've got to sub everyone on a yellow card, I'll run out of subs.

"I trust my players to make sure they err on the right side of the percentages when they're on a yellow card and not go in for rash challenges like that.

"I've been a player on yellow cards and you're well capable of picking and choosing challenges.

"If you're reckless and you walk that line, you have a responsibility to your team-mates to make sure you get those tackles right."

Asked if it was down to Black's game-management, Mellon said: "Without a shadow of a doubt.

"They're all adults, they're all professionals, the responsibility to pick and choose their challenges is solely with the player.

"And that's not me trying to get myself off the hook or saying I should have subbed someone."