Bristol City midfielder Joe Williams is walking a tightrope as he is in danger of picking up a suspension, which would rule him out for one game.
The EFL has disciplinary rules where if a player receives five yellow cards before the 19th game of the season, they will receive an automatic one match ban. For any player that picks up 10 before the 32nd game it’s two, and then if you’ve really got a discipline problem and have 15 cards at any point, then it’s a three match ban.
Mark Sykes is the first player to fall foul to the rule. He came off the bench and played a part in the equaliser against Cardiff City, but also got himself booked in the Severnside Derby. As a result, he will miss the game against Middlesbrough.
He along with Preston North End's Ben Whiteman are suspended this weekend. Aidomo Emakhu, Jonathan Varne, and Liam Walsh are all serving three game bans. Montenegrin striker Milutin Osmajic is serving the longest ban out of anyone for an alleged incident in the game between PNE and Blackburn Rovers.
Sykes will return for the game against Stoke City on Tuesday (October 22) night, but for Williams, he’s now got a nine-game stretch to avoid getting a suspension. Bristol City have a block of six fixtures before the next international break, where they play against Leeds United, Preston, Sheffield United, and Norwich City.
Based on what TransferMarkt is telling us, here’s the players all in danger of serving a ban should they be carded at the weekend or in their next games.
9. Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United)
Had been at risk of missing Friday's game after a third yellow against Portsmouth last month but managed to keep his discipline. A major boost for the Blades to have their star defender available for the Yorkshire derby. Photo: Simon Bellis
10. Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United)
Was at risk of missing Friday's trip to the club who tried to sign him in the summer, having picked up four yellows ahead of the trip to Luton Town before the break. Wilder opted to bench the Dutchman who came on for just 25 minutes, surely with the trip to Leeds in the back of his mind. | George Wood/Getty Images Photo: George Wood/Getty Images
11. Ben Wilmot (Stoke City)
Three yellows in the last four games has left the defender on the verge of suspension. Leeds don't play Stoke until Boxing Day, at which point a ban will almost certainly have been served. | Getty Images
12. Trai Hume (Sunderland)
Was at risk of missing the visit of Leeds earlier this month after picking up four yellows in the first six games. But avoided a fifth booking against Watford and Derby to feature in that 2-2 draw. Another to keep an eye on for 10 yellows come the reverse fixture at Elland Road in February. | Getty Images