A couple of London-based centre-halves were the latest to topple off the Suspension Tightrope over the Gameweek 12 action. West Ham skipper Winston Reid and QPR’s Richard Dunne both earned their fifth cautions of the campaign against Everton and Newcastle respectively and, as a result, are set to serve one-match bans this weekend.
Reid’s absence for Saturday’s home encounter against Newcastle hands Sam Allardyce a dilemma at the back. The Hammers boss rolled out a 3-5-2 at Goodison but is expected to return to a four-man backline, with James Tomkins alongside James Collins in the heart of defence.
With Dunne forced onto the sidelines, Rio Ferdinand could be in line for a return to action for the first time since Gameweek 7 as Harry Redknapp’s side welcome Leicester to Loftus Road. The former United man has only just completed a three-match ban but could be set to partner Steven Caulker against the Foxes on Saturday afternoon.
We now have as many as 18 players sitting on the Suspension Tightrope and with the fixtures coming thick and fast over the next month, there are a number of popular Fantasy picks sailing close to a ban. Chelsea duo Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa are the most high profile, with both sitting in over 50% of FPL sides. Costa certainly has his work cut out to avoid incurring the referee’s wrath – he’s been booked in all four of his appearances on the road and now faces five away trips in the eight Gameweeks between now and New Year.
Southampton’s Graziano Pelle is also just one caution away from a ban. Owned by over 30% of FPL managers, he’s second only to Costa in popularity amongst forwards – at a time where rest and rotation are rife, many Fantasy managers will be hoping to avoid the nightmare scenario where both strikers are booked in the same Gameweek.
Both Newcastle and Hull are the worst affected, with three players apiece. The in-form Magpies duo Daryl Janmaat and Moussa Sissoko are also amongst those perilously close to a one-match suspension, as are Swansea defenders Neil Taylor and Ashley Williams ahead of a very kind schedule for Garry Monk’s men.
In terms of other new suspensions, Claudio Yacob lasted just 28 minutes of his first league start under Alan Irvine before this two-footed challenge on Diego Costa earned him an early bath and subsequent three-match ban.
Hull’s Gaston Ramirez will out sit out the next trio of fixtures after being dismissed for violent conduct at the weekend. Steve Bruce may have slammed Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen for his part in the Uruguayan’s sending off on Sunday but, in spite of his protestations, the Tigers boss has admitted he’s unlikely to appeal to the FA.
Two other players remain on the sidelines due to previous indiscretions. Tottenham’s Kyle Naughton serves the second of a two-match ban at home to Everton, whilst Villa’s Christian Benteke misses the last of a three-match suspension as Paul Lambert’s side roll up to fellow strugglers Burnley.
