Alex Rodman would not curb Ryan Yates' enthusiasm for Shrewsbury Town
Alex Rodman has backed Ryan Yates to learn from his red card, but says he wouldn't take away the youngster's enthusiasm.
The 19-year-old Yates, on loan from Nottingham Forest, collected two controversial first-half yellow cards in Saturday's defeat at Bristol Rovers, leaving Paul Hurst's Town facing an uphill struggle.
Yates' first caution, a slide challenge on goalscorer Billy Bodin, where he appeared to play the ball, was followed by an eager lunge to divert the ball after goalkeeper Joe Lumley had spilled.
Gas defenders took a dislike to the effort and pushed Yates to the ground, prompting a skirmish that finished with Brett Huxtable showing the midfielder a second yellow.
But Rodman, who played 90 minutes at the Memorial, backed his team-mate and insists energy is a key part of his game.
"It's frustrating but Yatesy is a winner," said winger Rodman. "He's so enthusiastic and he wants to win.
"It's unfortunate because it's just inexperience, he's a young lad, learning the game. It's unfortunate because it's at a time when we need everyone on the pitch.
"I wouldn't ever take that out of Yatesy's game, it's just a bit of cleverness. I wouldn't take away that winning mentality and desperate drive to be in there. It's just a bit of experience and he'll learn from that." Rodman, like Yates a January addition by Hurst, lauded the attitude shown by the youngster from Championship side Forest since his first Football League loan move, and backed the Forest academy product to return from a first career red card.
"We joke and say that he's so mature beyond his years because he is, but his attitude is fantastic," added Rodman. "Every day he comes in and gives 100 per cent, you can't ask any more than that from a young lad.
"His attitude's been exemplary, him and Bryn Morris, they both come in and work their nuts off. It is a bit of inexperience but it's a learning curve for him and he'll learn from it."
