Bardsley accepts four-match ban

Defender Phil Bardsley will miss Sunderland’s next four matches after the club chose not to appeal a violent conduct charge against him.

Bardsley, 26, was hit with the charge after stamping on Chelsea’s Juan Mata in Sunderland’s 2-1 home loss to the Blues on Saturday.

Television footage shows Bardsley planting his foot into the back of the Spanish international, who had been tripped by Craig Gardner, and after studying this evidence the FA have retrospectively punished the Scotland full-back.

Bardsley has already been sent off since this season, which led to him being slapped with a longer-than-average sentence, and Sunderland has chosen not to fight the ban.

“Sunderland has confirmed it will not be appealing the Football Association’s charge against Phil Bardsley, following the Barclays Premier League fixture with Chelsea on Saturday 10th September,” the club said on their website.

“The FA yesterday advised that the defender would be cited retrospectively following an incident involving Chelsea’s Juan Mata during the first half of the fixture at the Stadium of Light.”

“The Scotland international will face a four match suspension which comes into effect from Sunday’s game against Stoke City at the Stadium of Light.”

As well as the Stoke match, Bardsley will also miss fixtures against West Brom, Norwich City and Arsenal.

The suspension is more bad news for Sunderland, who are winless from their first four Premier League games this season.