AFTER experiencing the “horrible” walk off the pitch following a red card for the first time, Liam Sercombe is aiming to make it a one-off.

The 25-year-old is available for selection against Portsmouth tomorrow after serving a one-game suspension for two bookings in the 1-0 win against Bristol Rovers.

Sercombe had picked up plenty of yellow cards in the first 270 games of his career, but never a red – some achievement for a player in the cutand-thrust world in midfield.

The experience is not one he is keen to repeat, although supporters are unlikely to notice a change in approach.

He said: “It’s horrible and that long walk goes on forever with the fans shouting at you.

“I felt I would be fine but it happened and I don’t want it to happen again.

“I don’t think it will change, I have been on yellow cards many times.

“If a tackle is needed to be made I will still make it.

“If I get sent off again it’s down to me but I won’t hide out if I’m on a yellow card.”

The sinking feeling at the Memorial Ground came for two reasons.

While there was concern about losing his place, which was taken by John Lundstram for the 1-0 defeat at Northampton Town last weekend, the main thought was on hampering his teammates.

Fortunately for Sercombe, Kemar Roofe’s goal let him off the hook.

“The first thing was about letting the team down,” he said.

“I wasn’t allowed to watch so I was sat in the changing room trying to follow the game.

“I was thinking ‘if we don’t come out on top here I’m going to have to apologise’, but Roofey scored that goal.”

Roofe’s strike was memorable, but Sercombe quickly discovered players sent off have to be confined in the changing room.

It meant he found out from an unlikely source.

“The kit man Mark (Jarrett) came into me – I was in the shower and he said we’d scored,” he said.

“I was just disappointed to miss the (Northampton) game, I wanted to stay in the team and play as many games on the spin as possible.

“Hopefully I come back in and help the team.”