Wes Brown’s red card habit continues to blight the Black Cats chances of beating the drop after the centre-half was sent packing for the third time this term.
Given that the first dismissal (for a foul on Charlie Adam back in Gameweek 12) was rescinded, however, this means Brown will only serve a two-match ban – one for denying a goalscoring opportunity and another for receiving his second confirmed suspension of the season.
The former United man was a victim of Gus Poyet’s penchant for playing it out from the back on Saturday. Phil Bardsley’s pass into no man’s land was pounced upon by Shane Long and, as the Baggies new boy bore sprinted towards goal, Brown scythed him down just outside the penalty area with only four minutes on the clock.
Playing with 10 men for the rest of the match, the Wearsiders were unable to extend their four-match unbeaten run as both Long and strike partner Nikica Jelavic notched a goal apiece to help Steve Bruce get one over his former club.
Brown will now miss Wednesday’s trip to City and is set to be sidelined for the upcoming FA Cup clash with Southampton, meaning he only misses one league match. Looking at Sunderland’s recent defensive displays, this is a huge relief for Poyet – the Black Cats have four clean sheets in the last six games that Brown has played from start to finish, winning three and drawing three of those fixtures. Bizarrely, he has yet to receive a yellow card this term.
We now have five players on the right-card limit after Stoke’s Jon Walters earned another yellow during Saturday’s draw at St Mary’s. He joins Fabian Delph, Marouane Chamakh, Wayne Rooney and Jonas Olsson on the naughty step, with 11 players further back on seven cautions apiece.
Elsewhere, Andy Carroll serves the second of his controversial three-match ban against Norwich tomorrow, with the Hammers target man also set to sit out the Gameweek 27 home game against Southampton. Mathieu Flamini, Allan McGregor and Loic Remy are also sidelined, with all three serving the last of their respective three-match suspensions.
Finally, Yaya Toure owners can breathe a sigh of relief after the FA confirmed they will not be taking action over his alleged altercation with Norwich’s Ricky Van Wolfswinkel at the weekend.
The incident, which was missed by the match officials, was reviewed by a three-man panel of former referees earlier today. In order for a charge to follow, all three must agree the act was violent conduct but their decision was not unanimous, meaning Toure is free to turn out for City against Sunderland tomorrow evening.
Cardiff’s Craig Bellamy has been charged for an incident in Saturday’s loss at Welsh rivals Swansea and looks poised to face a three-match ban. The panel were unanimous in their decision, though the Bluebirds have since confirmed they are reviewing the matter ahead of tomorrow’s 6pm deadline. If found guilty, Bellamy will miss home league games against Villa and Hull, in addition to an FA Cup clash with Wigan, before being available for selection in time for the Gameweek 28 trip to Tottenham.
