A couple of players failed to make it past yesterday’s deadline extension and resultantly toppled off the Suspension Tightrope in the weekend’s round of fixtures. Both Neil Taylor and Victor Wanyama earned their tenth caution of the campaign and are now set to miss the next two Gameweeks as a result of their indiscretions.
Bearing in mind that Kyle Naughton is already ruled out through injury for the rest of the season, Taylor’s challenge on Aaron Lennon during Swansea’s home draw with Everton means Garry Monk will be devoid of both his first-choice full-backs against Leicester and Newcastle.
Wanyama received yellow for pulling back Sone Aluko during Southampton’s home win over Hull, with the Kenyan now set to miss a trip to Stoke and home encounter with Tottenham.
The Suspension Tightrope has now been extended to 15 yellows, easing worries for a number of players. Cesc Fabregas owners can now breathe a sigh of relief after he avoid incurring the referee’s wrath during Chelsea clash with QPR yesterday, whilst team-mate Nemanja Matic, Villa’s Ciaran Clark, QPR skipper Joey Barton, Stoke’s Phil Bardsley and West Ham centre-half Winston Reid also remain on nine yellows.
Elsewhere, Carlos Sanchez earned a one-match ban after being dismissed during Villa’s vital away win at Spurs. The midfielder will sit out next weekend’s FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool and will therefore be available for the Gameweek 33 trip to City.
In terms of players still serving bans, Seb Larsson, Youssuf Mulumbu, David Meyler, Jonny Evans and Papiss Cisse all remain on the sidelines. Liverpool duo Martin Skrtel and Steven Gerrard, along with Newcastle’s Fabricio Coloccini, will all be available once this evening’s head-to-head at Anfield has passed.
