Freddie Draper and Conor McGrandles are both one booking away from suspension as Lincoln City prepare to welcome West Ham United to Sincil Bank on Wednesday.
The pair have accumulated four Championship cautions apiece, leaving them at risk of a one-match league ban. A fifth booking during City’s opening 19 league fixtures, including the 19th game itself, would trigger the suspension.
Freddie collected his first two bookings in our opening matches against Middlesbrough and Portsmouth, but the first looked harsh, a soft bump in the back on Malanda. He couldn’t complain too much about his challenge on Tom Devlin against Pompey, an aerial duel in which he did use quite a bit of force, as he did diving on Welington against Southampton. His fourth booking, against Bristol City, was more out of frustration after being fouled, colliding with Scott Twine long after the ball had gone.
McGrandles’ bookings have all been for out-and-out fouls as players have got away from him. The first came at Bolton, a trip on Josh Sheehan as he broke free towards goal, although him getting away wasn’t Conor’s fault. Against Blackburn, it was Morishita getting away from him after a lost duel, and he tugged back the player; while against Southampton, he took on one player too many, lost the ball to Downes and had to drag him down. Finally, he was booked this weekend after losing a duel with Chong and hauling him back.
With just nine league games played, there is still some distance to go before either can get beyond the five-booking cut-off, so a suspension feels inevitable. The circumstances of each are different though: Freddie’s have all been for robust challenges, while Conor’s have been necessity, usually after a lost duel. Either way, another yellow against West Ham would mean missing our following Championship fixture, potentially leaving City with an enforced change in midfield or up front.
Ben House is currently on three bookings, while Deji Elerewe, Tom Bayliss, Ivan Varfolomeev and Ryley Towler are on two. Last season, Towler served a suspension after just eight matches, picking up bookings in five consecutive league fixtures.
For now, both McGrandles and Draper remain available for Wednesday, but their disciplinary position adds another consideration as we look to respond to the Sheffield United defeat. We’ll want their usual contribution against West Ham, with a little care needed to avoid an unnecessary booking.
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