Booking boost for Rovers as first suspension amnesty reached

Previously, Rovers had been sweating on four players being one yellow card away from an automatic ban that would be triggered when picking up a fifth yellow card.

However, the number of bookings required before receiving a ban has now increased from five to 10 after the 19th match of the season, which was Saturday’s win at Stoke City.

Should a player reach 10 yellow cards before matchday 37, then that would trigger a two-match ban.

Rovers have four players on four yellow cards who have been walking something of a suspension tightrope.

Captain Elliott Bennett picked out four yellow cards in the opening eight matches of the season, but has since gone 11 appearances without one, despite giving away two penalties in that time.

Darragh Lenihan has been on four yellow cards since the defeat at QPR on October 4, but didn’t play until the Barnsley win over November 23 because of a knee injury.

Avoiding a card in the last three matches means Lenihan is set to continue in the side when Derby County arrive at Ewood Park this weekend.

Lenihan also picked up a booking in the Carabao Cup defeat to Sheffield United in August, but yellow cards are exclusive to that competition and don’t count to the league total.

Derrick Williams was another player on four yellows, picking up his last one in the defeat at Leeds United on November 9 when he scored his third goal of the season.

However, the Republic of Ireland defender picked up a calf injury during his international appearance against New Zealand earlier this month which ruled him out of the last three matches.

Williams is set to train with the first-team this week in a bid to make himself available for selection for the weekend.

The other player to have been one booking away from a ban was midfielder Lewis Travis.

Travis picked up booking number four in the 2-2 draw with Huddersfield Town on October 19 but has since gone six matches without going in to the referee's notebook.