Frank Lampard was the man on the spot last night – his penalty winner from the bench seeing off Manchester City’s unbeaten league record – but a combination of Andre Villas-Boas’ team selection and his presence on our Suspension Tightrope has seen Fantasy confidence stall. It’s worth noting however, that Lampard’s fourth yellow was picked up as long ago as October, and he’s played a part in seven domestic games without further reprimand since. In the meantime, it’s been Lampard’s Chelsea midfield team-mates who’ve been picking up their fair share of bookings, with yellows shown to both Ramires and Raul Meireles in last night’s win, meaning they now take up the less than comfy seats alongside Lampard on the tightrope.
There are also two new additions from Sunday’s games, where Blackburn’s old stager, Míchel Salgado; and Lampard’s England teammate, Scott Parker; both fell foul of the referee’s notebook in losses to Sunderland and Stoke respectively. That takes the tightrope numbers up to 14 players, nervously tip-toeing their way through the remaining four gameweeks until the five yellow card amnesty kicks in on New Year’s day. They will hope that they don’t go the way of Gabby Agbonlahor – who, as detailed in Saturday’s article, fell off the high wire and into a one-match ban for the round of fixtures in gameweek 16, when his Aston Villa visit Anfield.
Moving on to the weekend’s red cards – we’ve already covered Dan Gosling’s straight red for an over the top challenge on Norwich’s Russell Martin; that will see him miss the next three for Newcastle (SWA, WBA, bol). Since then, we’ve also seen Younes Kaboul given his marching orders for two yellow card fouls against Stoke on Sunday, and Gaël Clichy similarly dismissed for a pair of punishable indiscretions in the 2-1 away defeat last night. Both these players will be missing for their clubs for their next matches, Spurs at home to Sunderland, and Man City hosting Arsenal.
A final point to note is that Luis Suarez, who was originally given until 4pm yesterday to answer his latest improper conduct charge (the gesture to Fulham fans), has had this deadline extended while he prepares his defence. With the other long standing charge already hanging over him, there is currently no word yet on whether this one will run and run as well.
Gameweek 16 Bans
- Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) – 5 Yellow cards (1 match)
- David Wheater (Bolton) – 1 Red for serious foul play (Third of 4 matches)
- Jay Spearing (Liverpool) – 1 Red for serious foul play (Second of 3 matches)
- Gaël Clichy (Manchester City) – 1 Red for 2 Yellow cards (1 match)
- Dan Gosling (Newcastle) – 1 Red for serious foul play (First of 3 matches)
- Younes Kaboul (Tottenham) – 1 Red for 2 Yellow cards (1 match)
Suspension Tightrope – 4 bookings
- Alex Song (Arsenal)
- Stiliyan Petrov (Aston Villa)
- Míchel Salgado (Blackburn)
- Paul Robinson (Bolton)
- Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
- Raul Meireles (Chelsea)
- Ramires (Chelsea)
- Moussa Dembélé (Fulham)
- Brede Hangeland (Fulham)
- Steve Sidwell (Fulham)
- Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle)
- Ryan Shawcross (Stoke)
- Glenn Whelan (Stoke)
- Scott Parker (Tottenham)
