Gills defender Josh Gowling insists he won’t be changing his style despite heading towards a showdown with the Football Association over his poor disciplinary record.

The centre-back was recently sent off against Brentford after collecting two bookings in the match, taking his yellow card tally to 12 – just three away from falling under scrutiny from the game’s governing body.

The FA will want to know why he has been in trouble so frequently but the mild-mannered 24-year-old insists he’s no bad boy.

Gowling, pictured, said: "A lot of the fouls have been when they’ve been on the break. I’ve just broken up the play and I’ve taken bookings for the team.

"I’ve been getting bookings in just about every other game and now I’m just three away from having to face the FA.

"I’m going to try and cut them out but I won’t let it affect my game and I can’t think about it.

"I normally only get one or two a season but if I have to make a challenge then I’ll have no choice. If I have to break up play and take a yellow card then I’ll do it."

Gowling had only just returned from a two-game ban before his red card against Brentford earned him another match on the sidelines and a place at the top of League 1’s disciplinary charts.

"It’s a frightening record. I think the fact that I am top of the bad boy list is a bit of a misinterpretation of me and the way I play but I don’t mind it.

"I won’t change anything. People said to me before the start of the season that I need to be more aggressive and I have been.

"A few of them have been harsh and I got one card after being elbowed by Grant Holt (against Norwich) and one when I was pushed over, so there have been some dodgy ones. Most have just been for ‘professional’ fouls and nothing too hard.

"Against Brentford, the second booking was justified but the first I just fell over. I thought that was a poor decision by the referee."