Source: PA
Webb offers words of advice
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has drafted in World Cup final referee Howard Webb in a bid to rein in his repeat offenders.
New captain Lee Cattermole picked up the 10th red card of Bruce's tenure in Saturday's 2-2 Barclays Premier League draw with Birmingham, and will sit out this weekend's trip to West Brom along with defender Michael Turner, one of two Black Cats to be dismissed at Wolves on the final day of last season.
Sunderland have collected more than 90 cautions during Bruce's time at the helm, and the manager turned to Webb after deciding enough was enough.
The 39-year-old Yorkshireman, who produced 14 yellow cards and one red during Spain's World Cup final victory over Holland, spoke to the players after training on Friday and Bruce is hopeful such guidance will do the trick.
He said: "We have had 10 red cards now since I have been here in a year. If my maths are right, that adds up to every four games we are having somebody sent off, which is ludicrous and we shoot ourselves in the foot with it.
"So we have had Howard Webb here giving a talk to the players. When you get somebody of Howard's calibre coming up and giving his time, the one thing the players will do is listen. They will listen to it and hopefully take a little bit of advice and learn from it."
