Defender escapes Pompey ban

Acting Pompey right-back Gareth Evans Picture: Joe Pepler

The versatile performer collected his fifth booking of the season during stoppage-time of Saturday’s victory at Grimsby.

It represented a third-successive match in which Evans has received a yellow card.

However, he has avoided an automatic match ban – by one game.

Football League clubs are granted a yellow card amnesty from November 30, at which point those who reach five cautions do not get punished.

Instead, the figure is pushed up to 10 bookings – a tally which remains in place until the second Sunday in March.

It ensures Evans is free to face struggling Hartlepool at Fratton Park on Saturday, potentially marking a 15th successive league appearance.

At present, the only player in League Two who stands one booking away from suspension is Morecambe’s Michael Rose, who has nine cautions.

Michael Doyle and Conor Chaplin have already served single-match bans this season having accumulated five yellow cards.

Pompey’s sole red card was issued to Amine Linganzi, with his straight dismissal at Cambridge United in October earning three matches on the sidelines.

The midfielder has made only one league appearance since, with that arriving as a half-time substitute against Stevenage.

Enda Stevens collected his fourth booking of the season at Grimsby, yet the Blues possess the eighth-best disciplinary record in League Two.

However, Pompey do have Calvin Davies currently serving a three-match ban following a dismissal while on loan at Bognor.