Stoke City key man faces 10-game tightrope amid startling figures

Wouter Burger, who has already received three warnings, has a difficult two months left until the first weekend in December to avoid

receiving any more, which would force him to spend an afternoon or evening in the stands. In the first 18 games of the previous

season, Burger received five yellow cards for Stoke, whereas Wilmot was spared a ban by overcoming the amnesty.

Josh Laurent has received three yellow cards in his three games for Stoke this season, but he hasn’t had his name called in five for

Burnley, his current team.

This is consistent with the fact that, in 12 league and cup games this season, the opposition has only received more bookings than

Stoke. Even though Narcis Pelach initially said that his squad needed to be much more aggressive and had been too passive, Stoke has

amassed 31 cautions to their opponents’ 16—numbers that would surprise neutrals.

Late last month, Stafford-based referee Steve Martin issued seven yellow cards to Stoke, which resulted in a £5,000 fine from the FA.

Clubs have 28 days to submit written requests for mitigation, but they must do so with notice that a regulatory commission may

decide to impose a heavier penalty if the mitigation is denied.

If six or more players are booked in any other Potters game this season, the team will be fined £10k, and the fine will increase with

each subsequent booking.

One time last season, in a 4-2 loss on the road at Queens Park Rangers in December, Stoke received seven bookings or more. Another

time, in a 2-1 loss at home against West Brom when Wilmot suffered a fractured back, Stoke received six bookings or more.

Josh Laurent has received three yellow cards in his three games for Stoke this season, but he hasn’t had his name called in five for

Burnley, his current team.

This is consistent with the fact that, in 12 league and cup games this season, the opposition has only received more bookings than

Stoke. Even though Narcis Pelach initially said that his squad needed to be much more aggressive and had been too passive, Stoke has

amassed 31 cautions to their opponents’ 16—numbers that would surprise neutrals.

Late last month, Stafford-based referee Steve Martin issued seven yellow cards to Stoke, which resulted in a £5,000 fine from the FA.

Clubs have 28 days to submit written requests for mitigation, but they must do so with notice that a regulatory commission may

decide to impose a heavier penalty if the mitigation is denied.

The Potters would face a £10,000 penalty if six or more players are booked in any further fixture this season, with a further £5,000

added with every repeat.

Stoke received six bookings or more on one occasion last season – seven in a 4-2 defeat away at Queens Park Rangers in December –

and once in the previous campaign – six in a 2-1 home defeat to West Brom when Wilmot was left with a broken back.

Under Pelach, Wilmot has become an important member of the team very rapidly. In the previous two games, he moved to right-back

to assist Lewis Koumas, with Junior Tchamadeu being benched. Jordan Thompson, Tchamadeu, Ben Gibson, and Andrew Moran are

the four Stoke players who are on two yellow cards.

Ben Whiteman of Preston North End and Mark Sykes of Bristol City became the first players in the Championship to receive five

yellow cards; Wilmot received four. There are now seventeen players in the Championship. The only teams in the league with more

yellow cards this season than Stoke (26), who are tied with Norwich (26), are Preston (29) and Stoke (26). On the opposite end of the

spectrum are Oxford United (14) and Middlesbrough (11).

Read more news on https://sportupdates.co.uk/