There’s a trio of new arrivals on this week’s Tightrope, the most high profile being a certain United frontman. Wayne Rooney’s caution during Sunday’s draw at Cardiff, picked up for a seventh-minute “challenge” on Jordan Mutch, means he has now accumulated four yellows – if he receives another in any of his side’s next eight league matches between now and January 1, Rooney will serve an automatic one-match ban.
Earlier today, it was confirmed Rooney will not face any retrospective action after kicking out at the Cardiff player, as the incident was dealt with by the referee at the time. Similarly, Everton’s Kevin Mirallas looks set to escape further punishment for his challenge on Luis Suarez in the Merseyside derby – the Belgian, who was also booked for the indiscretion, has since admitted he was lucky not to be dismissed.
According to reports earlier this afternoon, Cardiff’s Gary Medel has escaped punishment for apparently raising his hands in the direction of United’s Marouane Fellaini in yesterday’s 2-2 draw.
Rooney was also joined on the Tightrope by Everton’s Ross Barkley and Southampton’s combative central midfielder Victor Wanyama, who were booked against Liverpool and Arsenal respectively. We now have 26 players sitting on four yellow cards, with only three clubs – Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Cardiff – not represented.
Liverpool do, however, sport the player with the most bookings to his name – Lucas has incurred the referee’s wrath no fewer than six times in the first 12 Gameweeks. Sunderland defender Wes Brown and Palace wide man Yannick Bolasie were both dismissed for dangerous play at the weekend and are currently poised to serve three-match bans.
The FA confirmed earlier today, however, that both clubs have contested the decisions – the Black Cats are particularly confident of winning the appeal in light of Brown’s challenge on Stoke’s Charlie Adam in a 2-0 loss at the Britannia. Fulham’s Sascha Riether will complete the last of a three-game suspension against West Ham; he will return for the Gameweek 14 home clash against London rivals Tottenham.
Gus Poyet welcomes Lee Cattermole and Andrea Dossena back into the Black Cats’ fold for the trip to Villa after the duo’s respective three-match suspensions came to an end last Saturday. Elsewhere, Mathieu Debuchy returns for Newcastle’s home game with West Brom, having served a one-match ban at home to Norwich for accumulating five yellow cards, whilst Mathieu Flamini is back for Arsenal’s trip to Cardiff, giving Arsene Wenger a double-pivot dilemma away to the Bluebirds.
