Sunderland defender Bardsley To Serve 4-match Ban For Mata Stamp

[emezico]

Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley will serve a four-match ban after the club decided not to contest a Football Association charge of violent conduct.

The 26-year-old Scotland international was charged on video evidence after appearing to stamp on Chelsea's Juan Mata during Saturday's 2-1 home defeat at the Stadium of Light.

Bardsley will miss the Black Cats' Barclays Premier League clashes with Stoke, Norwich, West Brom and Arsenal because of what is effectively his second sending-off of the season.