The Suspension Tightrope – Gameweek 29

Southampton’s Victor Wanyama was the latest addition to our Suspension Tightrope this week after picking up a booking in yesterday’s draw with Chelsea. The Kenyan joins Ciaran Clark, Cesc Fabregas, Phil Bardsley, Sebastian Larsson and Neil Taylor in the nine-yellow bracket, with the latter yet to feature in this evening’s home encounter against Liverpool.

Fabregas – despite his paucity of attacking returns in Chelsea’s previous four matches – remains the biggest concern for Fantasy managers ahead of the Blues’ double Gameweek 34 – the Spanish playmaker must safely navigate three clashes (hul, STO, qpr) before the 14 April cut-off date. Judging from the fact that Fabregas executed zero tackles against Saints – compared to the 24 that visiting duo Morgan Schneiderlin and Wanyama tallied – the former Arsenal midfielder is acutely aware of his predicament.

In further notable movement at the summit of the bookings table, Nemanja Matic earned his eighth yellow of the season against Ronald Koeman’s outfit, meaning Chelsea join Aston Villa as the only two clubs to have three representatives with eight or more yellow cards.

Newcastle United captain Fabricio Coloccini was handed the only straight red of the weekend’s fixtures after a two-footed tackle on Everton’s Aaron Lennon. The Argentinian centre-back will sit out a home tie against Arsenal and trips to Sunderland and Liverpool, returning to face Tottenham Hotspur in Gameweek 33, though after the 3-0 Goodison loss, Magpies boss John Carver confirmed he may decide to appeal the decision:

“I’ve seen it from four or five angles in the dressing room and it is not conclusive. That might be the footage we have. When I saw it I thought it must have been a red card, that was my initial reaction. But when I came in at full-time it was difficult to decide (after the replay). What I will do is look at it again. If it’s worthy of a sending off I will accept it. If it’s not we will appeal. I am saying in all honesty I have tried to look at it from a number of angles and I still was not convinced.”

Tom Huddlestone received a red card in Hull City’s 0-0 draw with Leicester for two bookable offences. As this was his second red of campaign, Huddlestone’s ban was extended to two matches, ruling him out of a home clash against Chelsea and a visit to Swansea City. The 5.3-priced midfielder will be back in contention for the Tigers’ trip to Southampton in Gameweek 32.

Mile Jedinak is still two matches away from a return to Alan Pardew’s side and will be available for selection for the Eagles’ Gameweek 32 duel at the Stadium of Light. Meanwhile, Gareth Barry, Lee Cattermole and Claudio Yacob will serve the last of their bans and could be reinstated next Gameweek against Southampton, Newcastle and QPR respectively.

QPR’s Joey Barton and Villa right-back Alan Hutton return to contention this weekend after fulfilling their obligations. Barton could start for the R’s as they entertain Everton at Loftus Road, while a buoyant Aston Villa team welcome back Hutton for their home encounter against Swansea City – bearing in mind that Leandro Bacuna served up a pair of assists at Sunderland, however, it remains to be seen whether the Scot will make an immediate return to the starting line-up.

Sunderland winger Adam Johnson remains suspended pending the resolution of police investigations relating to off-the-field issues.