CAPTAIN Peter Cavanagh has vowed to lead by example and clean up his act.

The Accrington Stanley skipper is in the middle of a five-match ban but was eligible to represent the England National Game XI against Italy Under 23s at Shrewsbury's Gay Meadow on Wednesday night, earning his second cap.

But as well as training with the squad, which included Reds goalkeeper Jon Kennedy, the players also took part in a psychology session during a de-brief in which Cavanagh vowed to play things by the book.

He explained: "We had to pick one thing that we thought we had done well in Wednesday's game and pick one thing we wanted to commit to try to improve on, whether it be for our club or the England side.

"My promise was to not get suspended again, or even get booked."

But the fullback believes Stanley have gained unwanted notoriety with the Nationwide Conference officials. And there was an incident from Wednesday's international which sticks in his mind in particular.

"The Italians were very aggressive and didn't take any prisoners in the tackles," he said.

"They were pulling shirts too and I remember being held back by one of them when I was running forward with the ball.

"I ended up going in for a strong challenge on him, I won the ball but the referee came over to me and told me to calm it down because Eric (Whalley) wouldn't want him to book me.

"He was a Conference referee because I've seen him a couple of times before, so they are well aware and I do think our reputation is going before us."

Cavanagh will sit out tomorrow's trip to Woking - a must win game if Stanley are to keep tabs on the play-off pack after slipping up at home to Dagenham and Redbridge last weekend.

And he knows that now is the time the Reds need to start picking up points from their travels.

"We've got eight draws and two wins, which isn't a bad record. But if we could have turned one or two of those draws into three points it would make a big difference," he said.

"One thing that can never be doubted about our squad is the good team spirit which John Coleman has developed so I'm sure the lads won't be suffering from a lack of confidence after last week.

"We bounced back after the Telford game and I'm sure we can do it again."

Paul Cook will undergo a fitness test ahead of tomorrow's game. If he passes, manager Coleman said he is likely to be the only addition to the squad which faced Dagenham last week.