George Dobson has just two more games to get through to avoid picking up a yellow card and a two-match suspension.
The midfielder has been walking a disciplinary tight-rope since February's defeat at Portsmouth when he picked up his ninth yellow card of the season.
He's since gone seven games without a caution to avoid the tenth of the campaign, which of course would result in a two-match suspension.
But the threshold for that offence passes after the 37th game of the season, which in Sunderland's case will be after next Saturday's clash with Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.
It means Dobson, who superbly assisted Kyle Lafferty's second goal in the 2-2 draw with Gillingham, can avoid a yellow card in midweek at Bristol Rovers and then at Blackpool, the shackle of the ten-yellows suspension will be lifted from his shoulders.
It's worth noting though, that he will then still have seven games to avoid reaching 15 yellow cards, which is punished by a three-match suspension, almost certainly at that point ending his season early.
Speaking recently about the disciplinary tight-rope, Dobson said he's had to put it to the back of his mind in games and not worry too much about it, although he admitted manager Phil Parkinson did offer advice after the ninth at Fratton Park.
"I'm not really thinking about it,” he admitted.
“When I got to the ninth yellow card the gaffer spoke to me and just said to try and play with a bit more calmness and that's just what I've tried to implement into my game since he said that.
“If I need to go into a tackle obviously I still will, but it's just been at the minute that there hasn't been an occasion where I've mistimed one and got the card.
“So yeah, hopefully for me personally, obviously, I don't want to miss a game, I can ride through these next few. Touch wood.”
One player who might be hoping Dobson picks up the yellow card, however, is midfielder Josh Scowen. Having arrived in January, the former QPR midfielder is yet to start a game owing to the form of Dobson and his midfield partner Max Power. A two-match suspension for Dobson would presumably offer Scowen two matches to show what he can do.
Dobson is the only Sunderland player in danger of reaching ten yellow cards before the 37-match cut off point.
