Sheffield United duo on the brink of suspensions with cut-off point still weeks away
Sheffield United defenders Liam Kitching and Japhet Tanganga are dangerously close to triggering one-match bans.
Defender Liam Kitching has joined his Sheffield United teammate Japhet Tanganga in walking a disciplinary tightrope after receiving his fourth yellow card of the season in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Derby County.
Kitching, who joined the Blades on loan from Premier League outfit Coventry City on transfer deadline day, was booked for a challenge on Rams midfielder David Ozoh during the second half of the clash with John Eustace’s side.
It was his third caution in his last five Championship appearances, meaning he has now been booked four times in eight games since arriving at Bramall Lane last month.
A fourth booking of the season means that Kitching is now just one yellow card away from triggering an automatic one-match ban alongside Blades captain Tanganga. The latter has been one booking away from suspension since receiving his fourth yellow card of the campaign in United’s 3-0 win over Lincoln City earlier this month.
English Football League rules state that any player who receives five yellow cards within their club’s opening 19 league matches must serve a one-match suspension, meaning Blades boss Chris Wilder is at risk of being without his first-choice centre-backs.
Kitching and Tanganga must now avoid being booked between now and the conclusion of United’s clash with West Ham United at Bramall Lane on Friday, December 4. The contest will mark the cut-off point for avoiding a one-match suspension for accumulating five yellow cards.
The United duo are among 24 players in the Championship who are currently one booking away from triggering a suspension for accumulating five yellow cards. As a result, several managers will be urging players nearing suspension to exercise caution in the coming weeks.
United, who will be hoping to return to winning ways when they host Wrexham at Bramall Lane on Friday night, have accumulated 22 yellow cards so far this season. However, no one other than Kitching and Tanganga has been booked more than three times, meaning no other member of Wilder’s squad is currently on the verge of triggering a suspension.
Under traditional EFL rules, accumulating ten yellow cards within a club’s first 37 league matches results in a two-match suspension.