City have been told not to kick the ball out when a player is down injured.

Colin Todd wants to cut through any confusion by ordering his side to play to the whistle and not automatically stop because somebody is on the floor.

It has become traditional to sportingly knock the ball out of play if an opponent goes to the ground with an injury.

But after several instances in the World Cup of players appearing to feign knocks to gain an advantage, the Premier League introduced a new directive this season giving referees the say on whether the action should be stopped.

This has caused crossed wires in the lower divisions, prompting Todd's tough stance with City.

He said: "The rule has been changed now and the ball should only be kicked out if there is a head injury. But the game hasn't come to grips with it, which is annoying.

"Sometimes it's the crowd and their reaction which makes the player decide to boot the ball out of play. Everyone needs to be educated that it's down to the referee.

"I've been telling my lot they've got to carry on playing unless it's a head injury. Otherwise people will take advantage."

City were almost caught out against Carlisle when Donovan Ricketts raced out from his goal and took a knock on his leg.

Carlisle played on for several seconds in the middle of the pitch while the keeper lay prone.

There were fears that somebody could have taken a long shot at the unguarded goal but the ball was eventually kicked out for a throw-in.

Ricketts said: "I didn't see much of what was happening because I was just laying down - and playing for sympathy as well!

"It was nothing too serious so I could carry on.

"The player just caught me on an old injury from last season."