Five Derby County players at risk of Championship suspension after the international break

Derby County enter the second international break of the season in a strong position but multiple players are at risk of suspension.

Derby clinched a 2-0 victory over QPR on Saturday to end their three-match winless run thanks to goals from Curtis Nelson and Marcus Harness.

The Rams have now won four games from five at Pride Park while on their travels, they’re still without a point, and that will be a concern for Paul Warne.

One other worry Warne will perhaps have is the prospect of his players facing suspensions. Currently, four of his stars have received two yellow cards, including Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Ebou Adams, Callum Elder and Kenzo Goudmijn.

Meanwhile, Eiran Cashin has three yellow cards to his name in the opening nine Championship games of the season, but what are the rules and why are these five players at risk of being suspended?

What is the EFL Championship’s yellow card rule?

In the Championship, a player will receive a one-match ban if he receives five yellow cards before the 19th game of the season.

That threshold is increased to 10 yellow cards before the 38-game mark to receive a two-match suspension while collecting 15 in one season could result in a three-game ban.

For Warne’s players, being disciplined could be crucial to them staying in the second tier but with 10 games to go before the cut-off point, there is a chance that multiple Derby stars could receive a one-match ban.

Last season, the Rams were one of the most disciplined teams in League One, collecting the fourth fewest yellow cards, with only Oxford, Northampton and Peterborough United receiving less.

This term, meanwhile, they’re ranked 12th in the Championship with 20 yellows received in just nine matches. Preston North End are leading the way in that regard, albeit for all the wrong reasons, with 31 yellows and two red cards.