The Cards Column Tips: MD13 Player Cards, Team Bookings and Referee Data

Well, it might be another international break meaning a depleted fixture list, but there are still 15 games across League One and League Two to get stuck into for the Cards Column.

Below, you’ll find the latest referee data, appointments, and tips ahead of those EFL matches from our expert, Matt Kirby.

• Lincoln vs Burton: 20+ Burton Booking Points & 40+ Match Booking Points
• Notts County v Mansfield: Kyle Cameron To Be Booked
• Crewe vs Tranmere: Tranmere to Receive the Most Booking Points

Odds via bet365 and Skybet as of 22:00, October 12th, 2023. Odds may now differ.

The Data from League One and League Two: Team Bookings and Referee Data

Card-happy pair Ed Duckworth and Scott Simpson rank highly in this season’s numbers for dishing out the discipline, so it’s good to see them have matches. Simpson returns to the stadium of his EFL debut at the backend of last season, which saw him show eight yellows and one red, whilst he pointed to the spot on two occasions.

There are also games for Ben Toner, who has shown at least four cards in each of his eight league games this season, and Ollie Yates, who showed cards totalling 105 bookings points in Wrexham’s win at Crawley last weekend.

Lincoln vs Burton: Albion Brewing Cards

England, League One, Day, Saturday, October 14th, 15:00

With limited card markets available at the time of writing, it’s been a stretch to try and find bets of value or punts that can be argued based on the referee data.

However, there’s an angle I quite like at Sincil Bank when Lincoln host Burton.

Using the Sky Bet Builder feature, we can get 1.80 on Burton 20+ booking points and 40+ booking points in the match, which looks like an intriguing angle.

Only four League One sides have seen more yellows than Burton (29) this season, while they rank fifth for fouls per game (11.9) in the division.

Dino Maamria’s pragmatic approach probably doesn’t win over many officials, which is why his side have seen 20+ booking points in nine of their 12 league games. On their last road trip, they picked up 40 bp at Reading!

It can be said that Lincoln draw fouls and cards from their opponents too, with seven of the 10 seeing at least two cards, including three of the four visitors to Sincil Bank. And the Imps rank seventh for fouls drawn per home game at 11.5.

Rebecca Welch is in the middle for this one. She’s taken charge of two EFL games since her return from the Women’s World Cup. Those two outings have seen her show 60 bookings points (30 bp each) and 40 bookings points (20 bp each), both of which have seens this bet land.

So, this punt has won in both games involving this ref, while we’ve got an away side who tend to give away plenty of fouls to pick up cards.

• Selection: 20+ Burton Booking Points & 40+ Match Booking Points
• Best Odds: 1.80
• Bookmaker: SkyBet
• Stake: 7/10

Kyle Cameron To Be Booked: Cameron is in for a titanic tussle

England, League Two, Saturday, October 14th, 12:30

The Sky cameras roll up at Meadow Lane as Mansfield make the short trip to Notts County for the first time since the 2018/19 season. County top the League Two table, but there are only four points ahead of the Stags in fifth.

With plenty at stake, referee Scott Oldham could be kept very busy dealing with matters. And one name he might be taking is Magpies defender Kyle Cameron.

The centre-back has seen yellow four times in the league this season, so is one away from a suspension. Cameron’s cautions have been from the 13 fouls committed, that’s despite him escaping without sanction after three fouls at Barrow last weekend.

With Cameron most likely to start on the left side of a back three, that could play into our hands after digging through a few recent Mansfield games.

Barrow left-back Junior Tiensie was dismissed against the Stags, while Gillingham’s left centre-back Shadrach Ogie and, most recently, Wimbledon’s Ryan Johnson both saw yellow.

Cameron is prone to committing a foul (or two) and has been a key figure at the back for Luke Williams’ side, which makes him look a solid contender for a card at 2.88 with Bet365.

Referee Oldham has shown at least four cards in five of his six league outings (83%), and with there being a somewhat local rivalry here, this could be tasty. If you use the Sky Bet Builder trick, 20 booking points each is 2.10, which looks solid, but with this being the only game with player cards available, take Cameron to enter the notebook.

• Selection: Kyle Cameron to be Booked
• Best Odds: 2.88
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 5/10

Crewe vs Tranmere: Get a return on Rovers cards

England, League Two, Saturday, October 14th, 15:00

Sky Bet have come to the rescue with some League Two markets, which is our final port of call this weekend.

This might sound crazy – but that’s just me – seeing Ross Joyce’s name next to any match makes me excited for a punting proposition, and that’s what we’ve got here when he oversees proceedings at Gresty Road between Crewe and Tranmere.

The bookies have continually underestimated the Railwaymen this season, with the Alex losing just two of their 12 games.

And they’ve only seen nine cautions in six home league games so far – only two teams have seen fewer – and that averages out at around 1.5 cards per home game.

In contrast, Tranmere have collected 16 yellows and one red across their five away games, with booking points totals of 30 or more in four of them. And given that Crewe’s team totals have finished on 20 bp or under in five of six at home, it points to cards for the visitors.

Rovers have received the most booking points in their last three away games with match splits of 20-40, 40-50 & 10-45. And they get through plenty of work, ranking fourth in tackles completed per 90 in the division.

These sides met three times in league and cup last season, with Tranmere picking up the most booking points in two of the three games – the other was a tie – to add fuel to the fire.

As does referee Joyce. He’s shown four reds this season, three coming in his last three outings. Looking solely at his trio of League Two games, he’s dished out booking points splits of 30-65, 10-10 & 10-35, showing the away sides tend to fall foul of his wrath – two aways sides in those numbers have finished with 10 men.

So, with Joyce happy to show cards (a few reds), Crewe ranking fourth for fouls won in League Two, and Tranmere generally good at irking officials, then the cauldron simmers for Rovers to receive the most booking points.

• Selection: Tranmere to Receive the Most Booking Points
• Best Odds: 1.91
• Bookmaker: SkyBet
• Stake: 10/10

SAFER GAMBLING

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