Leeds United hit with second consecutive suspension blow as replacement options assessed

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Leeds United have seen another player handed a one-match suspension after Junior Firpo was forced to sit out Saturday’s Championship clash at Bristol City.

Left-back Firpo’s yellow card in the win over Watford on Tuesday evening meant that Daniel Farke had to make a change to what was a very settled Leeds backline this weekend, as Sam Byram made his first start of the campaign.

The defence did their job at Ashton Gate, registering a sixth clean sheet of the campaign in a goalless draw that maintained the club’s unbeaten away record.

And while Firpo will be free to return next weekend for the Elland Road clash against Plymouth Argyle, it will be a case of one-in, one-out.

Jayden Bogle hit with one-match suspension

Right-back Jayden Bogle will now serve a one-match suspension after he fouled substitute Sinclair Armstrong on 67 minutes.

The caution was the former Sheffield United man’s fifth of the campaign and he will sidelined for the visit of Wayne Rooney’s Pilgrims.

Bogle has started every Championship game so far this season following his summer acquisition from Chris Wilder’s side when he replaced Tottenham-bound Archie Gray at Elland Road.

Bogle replacement options assessed

Bogle took no time at all in installing himself as Farke’s first choice on the right-hand side of defence, but the Leeds boss will have options to replace him.

The most likely scenario is that Sam Byram will simply swap over to the left when Firpo returns from his ban at the weekend. Byram produced a solid, reliable performance at Bristol City and should have no issues in moving over.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	SunderlandSunderland	11	8	1	2	21	9	12	25
2	BurnleyBurnley	11	6	4	1	17	5	12	22
3	LeedsLeeds	11	6	4	1	19	8	11	22
4	West BromWest Brom	11	5	4	2	13	7	6	19
5	Sheff UtdSheffield Utd	11	6	3	2	12	6	6	19
6	BlackburnBlackburn	11	5	4	2	16	11	5	19

Isaac Schmidt is the other specialist full-back in the squad, but is more used to playing on the left-hand side of the defence.

What Bogle’s booking does mean, however, is that Leeds have avoided the doomsday scenario of seeing Firpo, Rodon and Bogle all suspended for the same match, as the trio have all been walking the disciplinary tightrope in recent weeks.