Middlesbrough will be in a rare position when they take to the field on Tuesday evening at St Andrew’s, with none of their players at risk of picking up a yellow-cards-accumulation suspension in the final game before the ten-card cut-off.
In the past few years, Boro have headed into games walking the disciplinary tightrope, with FA rules only allowing for so many yellow cards in certain timeframes before suspensions are handed out. Earlier this season they lost Hayden Hackney for a game after he racked up five yellows before that cut-off point.
Ten yellow cards before the end of the 37th league game carries a two-match suspension, which can be particularly costly for sides at this stage of the season. But with Hackney (currently injured), Jonny Howson and Isaiah Jones Boro’s three most cautioned players the league this season with just six, there is no risk of picking up that two-game suspension for 10 yellows, with Tuesday’s game at St Andrew’s Boro’s 37th of the season.
It’s a boost for Boro whose opponents Birmingham don’t have the same luxury. With key men Jay Stansfield and Ivan Sunjic both currently on nine yellow cards heading into the game, they will both have to be a little more cautious. And that could be to Boro’s advantage.
Boro’s improved record on this front this season is likely to coincide with their injury record. With so many injuries throughout the season, very few players have been able to stay injury-free and available for all games. It means they’ve all had fewer games individually with which to accumulate the cards.
They aren’t completely risk-free this season, however. Right up the end of the season, the FA hand suspensions to players who receive 15 or 20 yellow cards too. Matt Crooks climbed to 15 by Easter 2022 and received a three-match suspension, much to then-boss Chris Wilder’s dissatisfaction. Any player who reaches 20 will have their punishment determined by a regulatory commission. With only 11 games, including Birmingham, to play, however, Boro look well-positioned to avoid any such risk.
Meanwhile, the EFL have made a late decision to switch the officiating team for the Birmingham game, with Sam Lewis replacing James Wilson as one of Andy Davies’ assistants for the game. Though the reason is not confirmed, our sister site Birmingham Live report that the Blues have been annoyed by decisions in their two most recent games.
On Saturday, they lost 1-0 to a late Millwall goal and felt they should have had a second-half penalty when Stansfield was hauled to the ground in the penalty box. Before that, they drew 1-1 with Hull City with Ozan Tufan’s goal for the Tigers coming via a handball that was not spotted.
Wilson, who is the linesman who’s been replaced for the Birmingham-Boro game, actually ran the line for Keith Stroud in that game at the MKM Stadium last week. He now won’t be part of this Birmingham game, with Lewis replacing him in a late change by the EFL.
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