Sending-off threatens Honeyman’s cup dream

GEORGE Honeyman could miss Sunderland’s Checkatrade Trophy final appearance after being sent off following a mass brawl between the dugouts near the end of Sunderland’s draw at Wycombe Wanderers.

Moments after Duncan Watmore had equalised for the Black Cats in injury time, there was uproar between the two benches as Sunderland tried to get the ball back in play quickly while a member of the Wycombe coaching staff wasted time.

And that led to Devon official Swabey showing straight red cards to Sunderland skipper George Honeyman and Wycombe’s Nathan Tyson, both of whom were sitting on their respective benches having earlier been substituted.

As things stand, Honeyman would receive a threematch ban for his red card and if – as is likely – Sunderland’s home game against Fleetwood Town in a fortnight’s time is postponed due to international call-ups, it would mean the Black Cats’ skipper would miss out on the Checkatrade Trophy final against Portsmouth at Wembley.

However, if the Fleetwood game does not move, he would be able to play in the final, while a successful appeal against his red card would also mean he would be eligible.

“It’s something I need to look at because I don’t know exactly what went on,” siad Black Cats manager Jack Ross.

“I’m going to speak to the referee before we leave to get clarity on it, and then I can look at everything and assess whether or not it [the red card] was justified.

“If it is justified, there is nothing we can do about it.

“If it’s not, we will look at it from there.”

Ross admits the scenes that marred the end of the game were “not good”.

He said referee Lee Swabey struggled to keep control even before the brawl erupted.

And there was a third red card show in injury time with Wycombe finishing the game with 10 men after Marcus Bean was sent off for a second bookable offence for a lunge on Watmore.

Ross said: “Of course, we have to take responsibilty for our behaviour in the technical area and so do Wycombe – we can’t apportion blame on the officials for that.

“But the whole game had a lack of control about it.”