Hazell walking card tightrope

REUBEN Hazell will continue to tread a suspension tightrope tonight.

The influential centre-back, currently captain in the absence of Sean Gregan, has four bookings to his name this season.

One more yellow card before the cut-off point of the last day of this year would result in a one-match suspension for Hazell.

At Brighton on Saturday, Athletic picked up five bookings, and though no other player is currently in the suspension danger zone — Jason Jarrett and Dean Furman are next with three bookings each — it is a factor of which boss Paul Dickov is aware.

“I am concerned about the amount of silly yellow cards referees have given out,” Dickov said.

“I don’t think, with any of the bookings we have had this season — and I have watched the game from Saturday again — there is one bad challenge.

“From that point of view it is disappointing. But it happens.

“It is disappointing and is something I will have to keep an eye on, because we don’t want players missing games through suspension.

“At the same time, and it is always the same with other managers I speak to, we just want a bit of common sense and consistency from referees.”