Burnley
Blackburn Rovers
Coventry City
Derby County
Leeds United
Luton Town
Middlesbrough
Millwall
Norwich City
Portsmouth
Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield United
QPR
Sunderland were down to ten men within the opening stages against Bristol City, who went on to win 2-1, but the dubious decision boded a silver lining for Regis Le Bris.
In the latest Championship top-six twist, Ashton Gate was subject to a controversial red card in the opening exchanges of Bristol City’s 2-1 win over Sunderland.
Black Cats full-back Trai Hume, recently snubbed for a Player of the Season nomination, was dismissed after six minutes for a foul on Bristol City forward Nahki Wells, who had plenty of ground to cover before reaching Anthony Patterson’s goal.
Eliezer Mayenda broke the deadlock with a stunning solo goal in which he carried the ball from his own box to the Robins’ and finished emphatically past Max O’Leary.
Second-half goals from Robins duo Rob Dickie and Ross McCrorie were enough to complete the comeback over ten-men Sunderland.
Given the foul came only minutes after kick-off, and that Wells was not clean through on Anthony Patterson’s goal, the dubious dismissal left Sunderland fans seething with referee Oliver Langford’s decision to brandish the red card rather than a yellow.
Trai Hume’s red card vs Bristol City left Sunderland fans fuming at referee Oliver Langford
Hume’s tough-tackling style has become the versatile full-back’s trademark as he is no stranger to a full-blooded challenge, but the contact on Wells in this case was extremely soft and could see Sunderland appeal the ban he is set to face for the straight red card offence.
After Hume was dismissed, Sunderland fans took to social media to share their frustrations at referee Oliver Langford’s decision.
One Sunderland fan said: “It’s an absolutely shocking decision. Possibly the worst I have seen”, as another argued: “We should appeal and win”.
Another supporter suggested: “You can’t give that a red it’s ridiculous.”, as another said: “Never a red absolutely shocking”.
One fan argued: “That’s an atrocious decision – sold by the ref and ref has bought that” as another fumed: “That’s a joke man, can see his hands in the air showing he’s avoiding him.”
Despite the fury over Hume’s dismissal, there was a silver lining to the full-back’s sending off that could bode well for Black Cats boss Le Bris, with the play-off campaign looming.
Trai Hume’s red card vs Bristol City has silver lining for Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris
Sunderland secured a play-off place with five games of the regular Championship season to spare.
As such, the Black Cats faithful have argued Le Bris should rest some key players in the inconsequential league fixtures.
Roma loanee Enzo Le Fee was a surprise inclusion on Friday, given his recent return from the Sunderland sidelines ahead of the upcoming play-off campaign.
In the case of Hume, Le Bris would ideally opt to give the mainstay full-back a rest before the play-offs. Via the Northern Echo, the Sunderland boss said this week: “I hope we can do that (rest Hume). If it is possible, I think it is important to let the players have one game a week because that keeps them in the right rhythm.
“The problem we have is that, in different positions, that is not easy. With the centre-backs at the minute, for example, it is really difficult, and it is the same at full-back as well.”
Now, unconventionally, he will be forced to, given Hume’s suspension as a consequence of his dismissal against Bristol City. Hume has been in Player of the Season contention and has enjoyed an impressive run of goalscoring form lately.
If Hume were to suffer an injury before the play-offs, it would spell disaster for Le Bris, but now the Black Cats boss can put that fear to bed, in admittedly less than ideal fashion.