"What we have needed more than anything is a bit of a rest," he said. "The Watford game was our 16th in just under two months. For us to have maintained the consistency we have over that period, in spite of the injuries says a lot."
Cahill will sit out Saturday's game against Reading and next week's trip to Derby following his red card against Cardiff.
He knows one more yellow card, to add to the 14 he has accumulated this season, would mean an additional threematch suspension, including either two play-off semi-finals or the FA Cup Final.
"This has obviously been at the back of my mind," admitted Cahill. "I now have to be professional and recognise I can't afford another mistake."
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