Jonty Banks

Tue 28 February 2023 14:10, UK

Over the course of the 2022/23 Championship season, a total of 1,582 cards have been dished out by referees, but West Brom remain the most disciplined of the 24 sides in the division.

The Baggies currently sit tenth in the table and just five points off the promotion places after a remarkable return to form after Steve Bruce was sacked and Carlos Corberan was instilled as manager.

Despite the change in coaching regime, Albion remain the best-behaved team in the Championship, picking up just 51 yellow cards and a total booking score of 54 on Transfermarkt’s fair play table.

This is almost half of Blackpool’s score of 95, while promotion rivals Sunderland sit 21st in the table having accumulated a score of 85, and Middlesbrough are just above them in 19th place.

Although a small part of the game such as discipline might not seem like a major factor in whether a team will have success over the course of a season, when the margins are so tight in a league such as the Championship, one rash tackle could be the difference between gaining a crucial win and falling short.

The Baggies have picked up just one red card this season, when Kyle Bartley was sent off for the accumulation of two yellow cards in the 2-1 loss to Millwall earlier this season – but the club have not received another red in the Championship since the arrival of Corberan.

When compared to Albion’s close rivals, this is an impeccable record. So far this term, sixth-place Luton have picked up four red cards, Blackburn and Sunderland three a piece, while Norwich City and Middlesbrough have received two each.

If the Baggies hope to throw their hat into the play-off race over the coming months, it is imperative they continue to show good discipline.

Matches often hang on the decisions of referees, and West Brom need to continue erring on the side of caution.

In other West Brom news, Albion fans have been urged to look at the bigger picture when it comes to this first-team player.