Black Cats lose Ndong red card appeal as midfielder nears exit
Sunderland have lost their appeal against the red card shown to Didier Ndong last weekend.
Ndong was sent off during the 4-0 defeat to Cardiff City for a late challenge on Canadian forward Junior Hoilett.
An FA statement read: “Didier Ndong will miss Sunderland’s next three matches through suspension after an Independent Regulatory Commission dismissed claims of wrongful dismissal and excessive punishment that followed his red card for serious foul play against Cardiff City.”
Chris Coleman admitted after the game that the referee ‘had a decision to make’ but felt the Gabon midfielder was ultimately unlucky.
He said: “The sending off, sometimes they’re given, sometimes they’re not. I think the referee did have a decision to make, then you’re on a wing and a prayer [after he does].
“You can look at it two ways, his studs are up onto the ball, then his foot hits it [the ball], and then he hits the Cardiff boy quite high. I’ve seen them given, seen them not given.”
Ndong is likely to leave the club this month, but Coleman insisted he had no regrets over the decision to pick him for the game and felt he had performed well before seeing red.
With midfield options still desperately light, the 23-yearold would almost certainly have been involved in the crucial game against Hull City this weekend.
Coleman said: “We spoke with him, we know he is on his way eventually, but I said to players who want to leave, if they’re mentally with us and will put a shift in for the team we’ll use them.
“To be fair to him in the first half he covered a lot of ground, worked hard. He got sent off, maybe he is unlucky.
“I really can’t say Didier Ndong was the problem today.
“We gave the opposition a goal 45 seconds into the half, make no mistake that is where it came from today. Then it’s ‘here we go again’.”
Lee Cattermole will be fit for the game, but is well short of match fitness, while standin holding midfielder Marc Wilson has been struggling with injury.
Jonny Williams has returned to training but is not match fit, while Paddy McNair has also struggled for fitness of late.