Derby County enters the second international break of the season in a great position, but several players face punishment.
Derby defeated QPR 2-0 on Saturday, ending their three-match winless streak thanks to goals from Curtis Nelson and Marcus Harness.
The Rams have won four of their last five games at Pride Park, but they are still without a point on the road, which will be a source of concern for Paul Warne.
Warne may also be concerned about his players being suspended. Four of his stars, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Ebou Adams, Callum Elder, and Kenzo Goudmijn, have now got two yellow cards.
Meanwhile, Eiran Cashin has received three yellow cards in the first nine Championship games of the season, but what are the rules, and why are these five players at risk of suspension?
What is the EFL Championship’s yellow card rule?
In the Championship, if a player collects five yellow cards before the 19th game of the season, he will be suspended for one match.
That threshold has been raised to 10 yellow cards before the 38-game mark to get a two-game suspension, while 15 in one season may result in a three-game punishment.
Being disciplined could be critical to Warne’s players’ survival in the second division, but with 10 games remaining before the cut-off date, many Derby stars could face a one-match penalty.
Last season, the Rams were one of League One’s most disciplined sides, with the fourth fewest yellow cards, trailing only Oxford, Northampton, and Peterborough United.
This season, they are rated 12th in the Championship, having got 20 yellow cards in just nine matches. Preston North End leads the way in this aspect, but for the wrong reasons, with 31 yellow cards and two red cards.
Derby County’s fixtures after the international break
Derby return to action following the international break, as they head to Millwall in the Championship aiming for their first away point.
The Rams then travel south to Oxford United before hosting Hull City and making the short journey to Stoke City.
Derby will want to build on their strong start by picking up a couple of wins in these games.
Supporters will be hopeful that they finally witness an away win after the break and of course, will want their players to avoid suspension.
