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Stoke City duo face 90-minute tightrope to avoid two-game ban

Wouter Burger and Andrew Moran have to make sure they do not go into the referee's book against Blackburn Rovers to avoid an automatic two-game ban.

Burger and Moran have both clocked up nine yellow cards in the Championship so far this season. A 10th before or during the 37th game of the campaign rules a player out for two matches. Moran has got through the last two without having his name taken while Burger's card for dissent at Coventry was his first in five league matches.

Burger spoke to the local media this morning ahead of the Blackburn match on Wednesday (8pm) and admitted he is having to think about controlling his behaviour to cut down the bookings.

He said: "I think when I was captain last season for a while I got away with a lot but since I don't wear the armband I get more yellows and I have to be a little bit smarter, I think. I thought already about something so let's see if it's going to work out."

Junior Tchamadeu is on eight yellows, Ben Wilmot on six and Ashley Phillips, Ben Gibson and Jordan Thompson all on five. Ben Pearson is only on two, although he has missed most of the season with a hamstring injury and his fitness is being assessed after limping out of the Coventry clash in the first half.

A player will be banned for three matches if they pick up 15 yellow cards over 46 matches, the regular season prior to the play-off games. A player who picks up 20 yellow cards up to and including the last day will have a punishment determined by a regulatory commission.

Josh Laurent actually picked up three yellow cards in his three appearances for Stoke this season and has only picked up three in 32 for Burnley after switching clubs in August.

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