MARTIN Ling faces another selection dilemma ahead of Saturday’s trip to Chesterfield after Raphael Branco picked up his fifth booking of the season in last night’s win over Walsall.

The centre back picked up a one match suspension after pulling Saddlers striker Tom Bradshaw to the floor on the edge of the box in the second half of the game.

Having dealt with a surplus of loan players for the last two games, Ling will now have to consider a change to the 3-5-2 formation he has been playing since his arrival at the County Ground.

With Adam El-Abd and Jordan Turnbull the only available central defenders at the club it is likely that Town will opt for four at the back as they look to build on Tuesday night’s win.

“The two away performances I have had at the club, in terms of Rochdale and Fleetwood, have been nowhere near good enough,” Ling told the local media.

“We hope to put a better performance in against Chesterfield on Saturday and hope to take the confidence we have got out of this result into Saturday’s game.

“Raphael Branco will be suspended so there will have to be a change of system because we haven’t got another centre half in the building.

“That wouldn’t be by choice, but we’ll have to have a change of system and it will be something we’ll work on between now and when Saturday comes.”

Ling will also be sweating on the fitness of Louis Thompson, who impressed on his return to the side on Tuesday, scoring the late winner, before coming off with suspected cramp in his groin muscle.

“It will probably be a change in system rather than losing his legs and his ability,” added the Town boss when asked if Thompson could drop into defence to plug the hole on Saturday.

“I think he is a bit cramped so I think he’ll be alright.

“Let’s hope he comes through alright.

“I thought he was good tonight (against Walsall) and his energy is important for us.

“Yaser (Kasim) and Ben (Gladwin) give you a little bit more on the ball but never really got going tonight, either of them two.

“You know what you are going to get with Louis and I thought he was outstanding.

“I left him out Saturday, with the loan situation. Obviously Wes Thomas missed out tonight but that is something I can’t do anything about.”