The Cards Column Tips: MD16 Player Cards, Team Bookings and Referee Data

Despite the freezing temperatures, we’ve got a full slate of football across the Premier League and Football League to get stuck into.

Matt Kirby delivers this week’s Cards Column with the latest referee data and appointments, as he points out three card-related bets across the markets.

• Stoke vs Sheffield Wednesday: Over 3 cards & a Stoke card in the second half
• Everton vs Chelsea: Vitaliy Mykolenko To Be Booked
• Blackburn vs Leeds: Both teams to receive 2+ cards

Odds via Bet365 & Sky Bet as of 22:00, Thursday, 7th December, 2023. Odds may now differ.

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Stoke vs Sheffield Wednesday: Potters and Owls collide

England, Championship, Saturday, December 9th, 15:00 (UK)

This game in the Championship catches my eye this weekend, with Sheffield Wednesday propping up the table and Stoke only five points above the drop zone.

It’s no win in five for Stoke, and the pressure is starting to build on Alex Neil after just 18 wins in 59 games since taking charge. The Potters need to turn a corner and climb away from danger to keep Neil in his post with an important run of games ahead.

Wednesday will be full of confidence after their 3-1 win over Blackburn last weekend. That came on the back of a late 1-1 draw against leaders Leicester, but their one point from nine away games has been the problem.

Given both are battling for points towards safety, this could go off. Stoke have a league-high average of 3 cards per home game, while Wednesday average 2.3 on their travels.

With those averages pointing towards around five cards, the Bet365 line at 3.5 looks on the low side. That’s 1.72, which is a bit short to tip, but take that line with 1+ Stoke second-half card to boost the price to 2.00.

There have been four or more cards in seven of Stoke’s nine home league games this season, with the Potters seeing at least one yellow after the break in each one. Just solely looking at Stoke’s second-half cards record sees 1+ in 15 of their 19 league games, including eight of nine on home turf.

Wednesday were on the road twice last month – both games saw six cards, which makes me believe we’ll see a few from referee David Coote.

It’s some return from the Select Group 1 official who was at the U17 World Cup in Indonesia. He’ll be in for a shock going from 25+ degrees temperatures to the freezing Potteries.

Coote showed 4+ cards in four of his six middles before heading to Indonesia, including his sole Championship game between Sunderland and Southampton.

What’s more, Stoke commit more fouls than any other Championship side (13.8 per game), with Wednesday sitting third in that metric (13.1) making me believe Coote could be busy.

• Selection: Over 3 cards & a Stoke card in the second half
• Best Odds: 2.00
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10

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Vitaliy Mykolenko To Be Booked: Rising to the challenge

England, Premier League, Sunday, December 10th, 14:00 (UK)

Everton have risen to the challenge after their 10-point deduction. Thursday’s 3-0 win over Newcastle was their third victory in four and it’s seen them climb out of the bottom three.

Now, what Chelsea will turn up? They would be below the Toffees if the Merseyside club hadn’t had 10 points off. Mauricio Pochettino’s side have lost their last two on the road and allowed plenty of shots on their goal at Man Utd on Wednesday.

But one thing that I’ve noticed in recent Chelsea games is that opposition left-backs have been carded.

Spurs’ Destiny Udogie was sent off in that wild game at the start of last month and Brighton’s cover left-back Jack Hinshelwood saw yellow in the first half of that game on Sunday.

Then, look at Wednesday. Man Utd’s starting left-back Luke Shaw was booked. Later, on came Sergio Reguilon and he also saw yellow in stoppage time. So, that’s four left-backs booked against the Blues in their last five league games.

So, Vitaliy Mykolenko – your time is now. The Ukranian defender has only seen yellow once in the Premier League this season. He’s committed 14 fouls after making a couple during Everton’s win over Newcastle.

He usually seems quite eager to nip in front of an opponent to nick the ball, while he can be very handsy, which saw a couple of shirt pulls go unpunished against the Magpies.

Mykolenko’s sole caution came against the tricky wingers of Crystal Palace, where he made three fouls. So, hopefully, Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling drive at him or look to utilise the space behind him when he gets forward.

Michael Oliver has shown at least four cards in 80% of his games and is averaging 4.7 per game. It’s his first Chelsea involvement since that wild match against Spurs, so more drama with Mykolenko being in the thick of it would be ideal.

The Ukrainian left-back is 4.00 on Bet365. However, he’s a much bigger price with Sky Bet, who have him chalked up at 6.00, which is where I’m playing this bet.

• Selection: Vitaliy Mykolenko to be booked
• Best Odds: 6.00
• Bookmaker: Sky Bet
• Stake: 7/10

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Blackburn vs Leeds: Rovers fighting spirit

England, Championship, Saturday, December 9th, 12:30 (UK)

Two of the Championship’s top seven collide at Ewood Park on Saturday when Leeds visit Blackburn.

On paper, this looks ripe for cards with Blackburn averaging 2.8 per home game and Leeds 2 per away match.

So, I’m looking to keep this straightforward and go for 2+ cards to each team. At the time of writing, only Bet365 have this market priced at 1.83.

This has copped in six of Blackburn’s nine home games this season. While Rovers have seen 4+ cards in four of their home matches, so could easily rack up the cards against the high-tempo Leeds attack.

The Whites have seen 2+ cards in six of their away games, which is a strong enough case to make.

When you look at Leeds away, they went to sixth-place Hull and picked up 65 booking points, where Joe Rodon was sent off. Plus, they picked up two cards at second-place Ipswich and three more at Norwich.

The numbers for both sides look strong enough, then you add Matt Donohue to the mix. His figures aren’t as big as I first thought, but when he’s in the mood the cards come out.

He’s already overseen one Leeds game this season, which saw nine cards against West Brom – a 5-4 split to the Baggies, proving he knows how to dish them out.

This is Donohue’s first involvement with Rovers this season. However, he did three of their games last season. Those games saw 5, 4 & 4 cards, with splits of 2-3 (away at Blackpool), 3-1 (home v Wigan) and 2-2 at Stoke.

Donohue’s 4.5 cards per game average is good enough to suggest cards, especially with Blackburn picking up plenty at home. It’s also worth saying his 31.7 fouls per game is astronomical compared to his colleagues, so he’s one to lay down the law with ‘soft’ free kicks.

• Selection: Both teams 2+ cards
• Best Odds: 1.83
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10

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