Cats stars walking a disciplinary tightrope
Sunderland could be faced with a dilemma in the coming weeks - with a number of players walking a disciplinary tightrope.
AsperEFLrules,anyplayer whopicksupfivebookingswill receiveaone-matchbanforthe next league fixture - with the cut-off for cautions not until the 19th league game. That means there are still nine games to survive before the boundary for a suspension increases - and that could leave a number of Sunderland players vulnerable having already racked-up a number of yellow cards in the early weeks of the season.
George Dobson, Luke O’Nien and Chris Maguirehavebeencardedjusttwice in League One. A quartet of Black Cats are just two cards away from suspension.
Grant Leadbitter, Aiden McGeady, Charlie Wyke and Conor McLaughlin all have three yellow cards to their name. Closer still to a suspension is Max Power, whose booking against MK Dons on Saturday was his fourth of the season.
One more caution will see Powersuspendedforonegame -andhestillhassomewaytogo until the cut-off date for yellow cards.
Sunderlandwillbewithout Chris Maguire for their Carabao Cup tie at Oxford United with the winger set to serve a one-match suspension.
An EFL rule change in recent seasons means that bookingsarenowcompetitionspecific and, having rackedup two cautions already in the Carabao Cup, Maguire will be forced to sit out the visit to the Kassam Stadium. Maguire’s suspension can only be served in the Carabao Cup, meaning he will remain available for the Black Cats’ upcoming League One fixtures.