Sunderland have two key men walking a disciplinary tightrope going into this weekend's game against Wigan Athletic. Wideman Jack Clarke was booked for diving in injury-time in Saturday's defeat at Swansea City, with that yellow card his fourth of the season - leaving him one caution away from a one-match suspension.
And defender Luke O'Nien has had to tread carefully since collecting his fourth yellow card at the end of August, knowing that he is also one booking away from an automatic one-game ban. Skipper Corry Evans will sit out the Wigan game at the Stadium of Light after he picked up his fifth booking of the season at Swansea.
Sunderland have a number of midfield options to replace Evans such as Jay Matete, Abdoullah Ba, and Edouard Michut. And Australia international Bailey Wright is waiting in the wings to replace O'Nien if necessary. But Clarke's attacking threat would be harder to replace, with his four goals making him a potent attacking weapon - particularly while centre-forwards Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms are ruled out through injury.
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Aside from Clarke and O'Nien who are in immediate danger, next on the list are Matete and Lynden Gooch who both have three bookings so far this season. The cut-off point for players receiving a fifth booking in the EFL - after which they will not receive a ban - comes after 19 matches.
In Sunderland's case, that point will fall at the end of the Black Cats' home game against Cardiff City on November 5.
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