'Going to hurt' - Sunderland defender Dan Ballard aware of suspension risk

Dan Ballard is walking a disciplinary tightrope for Sunderland, but he says it won't impact his normal game.

Dan Ballard says it’s ‘going to hurt’ when he is eventually forced to sit out though suspension, but he won’t let that affect his game in the meantime.

Ballard has already been suspended once this season and he will receive a two-match ban should he pick up one more yellow card between now and the amnesty on March 9.

That leaves him walking something of a disciplinary tightrope and realistically a suspension is probably inevitable.

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However, he is adamant he won’t change the way he plays to avoid it, even if he knows missing games will ‘hurt.’

“I will play my game as I normally would,” Ballard told Sky Sports. “It's obviously disappointing, you know, after five yellow cards getting that one match suspension was frustrating.

“I think when the game starts you don't really think about them things, but yeah, I'm just going to try and last as long as possible because it's going to hurt when I have to sit out for a couple of games.”

Sunderland face Middlesbrough this weekend and they endured a tough afternoon against the Teessiders in the reverse fixture.

The Black Cats crumbled to a 4-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light, but they felt incredibly hard done-by after referee Jarred Gillet sent off Dan Neil just before half time.

Spoke to @SunderlandAFC defender @dg_ballard and he insists they're not out for revenge on Sunday against Middlesbrough...#SAFC | #MIDSUN pic.twitter.com/6adSQ2SFwv

— Simeon Gholam (@SimeonGholam) February 2, 2024

Ballard, though, insists revenge will not be on Sunderland’s minds when they travel to the Riverside.

"We’ve had some brilliant games sort of against each other in my time here,” Ballard said. “Some have been tight and the last one obviously was really disappointing for us.

“I don't think there's necessarily revenge on our minds, but we're going to go out and try to win the game. We know it's going to be probably a little a little bit more fiery than normal.

“From the last game, we know they're a good team, so it's going to be a tough challenge but we're looking forward to that.

“I feel like as a team, we're good against them type of teams. I think both teams are going to play for the win. It will be probably like toe to toe, so it's going to be an enjoyable match.”

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