The Cards Column Tips: MD23 Player Cards, Team Bookings and Referee Data

There’s no rest for the Premier League sides after their midweek round of games, with the Cards Column covering both the top-flighl and the Football League, as Matt Kirby brings you his best card bets and booking points tips.

Player bookings, team cards, and card bet builders – what more could you want?

• Chelsea vs Wolves: Over 1 Chelsea second-half card & over 1 Wolves second-half card
• Swansea vs Plymouth: Jamie Paterson To Be Booked
• Brentford vs Man City: Over 1.5 Man City Cards

Odds via bet365 as of February 1st, 2024, 09:00 Odds may now differ.

The Data from the Premier League and the Championship: Team Bookings and Referee Data

Michael Oliver returns after what seems like a few weeks away from the action. He kicks the weekend off in the Premier League when Everton host Spurs. Anthony Taylor has the big game between title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal on Sunday.

In the Championship, David Webb has what could be a fiery Midlands derby between West Brom and Birmingham. He’s been showing a few cards lately. While Sunday’s clash between Middesbrough and Sunderland sees card-happy Darren England overseeing proceedings.

The Data from League One and League Two: Team Bookings and Referee Data

Select Group 2 officials are out in force. Jeremy Simpson makes his return at the Pirelli, where Burton host Lincoln. John Busby is in charge of Bolton v Barnsley. While Dean Whitestone finds himself in League Two as Crawley entertain Morecambe.

American official Alex Chilowicz continues his transition to English football when Wrexham visit Salford. While one of the National List’s highest card issuers Simon Mather (6.8 per game) has an important match in League One between Stevenage and Blackpool.

Chelsea vs Wolves: Cards magnets collide

England, Premier League, Sunday, February 4th, 14:00 (UK)

Think back to Christmas Eve when these two sides met at Molineux. David Coote went on a cards spree, showing eight cards – three to Wolves and five to Chelsea. Plus, there was another in the direction of unused sub Marcus Bettinelli.

You could say things got fairly spicy after the break, when six of those eight cards came – a split of Wolves 2-4 Chelsea. So, I’m hoping for more of the same in this clash.

Let’s be honest, both sides are card magnets. The Blues have picked up 33 yellows in 11 home games – an average of 3 per game. While Old Gold average 2.82 per away game.

And what should help us here is that we’ve got two of the top three Premier League sides for fouls. Wolves top that chart, giving away 12.9 free-kicks per game, while Chelsea are third at 12.6.

Now, we’ve got an alright referee for cards in Tim Robinson. He’s done two Chelsea league games, showing seven and five. While his sole Wolves game saw him dish out a further seven.

Across those games, Chelsea saw three cautions in the game against Nottingham Forest, while he showed them four at Fulham – three of which came in the second half.

During Wolves’ dramatic late victory over Spurs, Robinson showed five second-half cards, four going to those in gold shirts.

One of Robinson’s more recent middles saw him dish out six second-half cards as Nottingham Forest beat Man Utd. That saw a 2-4 split after the break. While his game on Thursday saw four cards – all in the second half. A pattern I’m hoping he follows between two tempestuous sides.

• Selection: Over 1 Chelsea second-half card & over 1 Wolves second-half card (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 3.00
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10

Jamie Paterson To Be Booked: Forwards to ponder

England, Championship, Saturday, February 3rd, 15:00 (UK)

One of the Championship games that stands out for various reasons on Saturday is Plymouth’s trip to Swansea. One of those is the chance of a high-scoring encounter.

The Swans have struggled since Luke Williams’ arrival at the Liberty. They concede plenty, while Plymouth have the league’s second top scorer Morgan Whittaker in their ranks and seem to have their MO as ‘we’ll outscore you’. On paper, it screams goals!

However, you’re here for cards. And there could be a few of those as well. Earlier in the season I pointed out how opposition left-backs tend to see yellow against the Pilgrims. In recent weeks that has changed somewhat to forwards.

Across their last seven Championship games, Plymouth have drawn cards from five opposition attackers. Those unfortunate souls have been:

• Rotherham’s Sam Nombe
• Birmingham’s Jay Stansfield (less fortunate)
• Watford’s Rhys Healey (he was second-half sub as well)
• Huddersfield’s Sorba Thomas
• Cardiff’s Yakou Meite

That leads me to those attacking options for Swansea. Jerry Yates rarely gets booked, so Jamie Patterson could be the way to go.

He does only have four cautions to his name in the league, but they’ve all come in home games. Plus, he could find himself doing a lot of chasing Whittaker or Mumba (if they switch sides).

In three of Swansea’s last four at home, Patterson has made 2+ tackles, so will try to roll his sleeves up and get stuck in. So, that could see him caught out, especially with the way Plymouth play. I can see him having a little nibble at Whittaker at some point, which forces Sam Allison’s hand to reach for a yellow.

Talking of Allison, he is averaging 4.5 cards per game and has shown at least four in 10 of his 14 league matches. There’s enough to suggest plenty of cards (and goals) in what should be an entertaining game. But for me, I’m taking Patterson for a card at 5.00.

• Selection: Jamie Patterson to be booked
• Best Odds: 5.00
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 5/10

Brentford vs Man City: Won’t be a stroll for Citizens

England, Premier League, Monday, February 5th, 20:00 (UK)

We’re into that time of the season where Man City become a relentless winning machine. Standing in their way on Monday night are Brentford, who won both meetings last season.

So, Pep Guardiola knows his side will be made to work. But they’ve been bolstered by the return of star men Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland.

But there’s a theme I like to get on board with when it comes to Man City. Bookies tend to set lower lines based on their expected dominance in games. I’ve used it to my advantage before and feel we can do so here.

Bet365 have opened up at 2.00 for over 1.5 Man City cards, which does look inviting. The Sky Blues average 1.9 cards per league game this season, so that’s on the cusp of what’s expected.

Guardiola’s men have seen two or more cards in 12 of their last 18 in the Premier League following Wednesday’s win over Burnley. That game saw Ederson and Jeremy Doku booked, proving they can pick them up against ‘lesser’ opponents. Plus, officials are still trying to clamp down on time-wasting.

What helps us further is that visitors to Brentford average 2.5 cards per game. Heading into this one, eight away sides (from 11) have picked up 2+ cards on their visits to the Gtech. Those include Spurs (2), Burnley and West Ham (both 4), Aston Villa (6) and Nottingham Forest (3).

Aussie Jarred Gillett is fairly decent for cards. He’s shown four or more cards in 10 of his 12 games, so he could be in the thick of the action, especially if Brentford put themselves around like they did at Spurs on Wednesday. If they do, the Bees could ruffle a few City feathers.

• Selection: Over 1.5 Man City cards (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.00
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10

SAFER GAMBLING

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