'Chop 'em Down' Brown is a liability Sunderland can't afford to carry in relegation fight

Published: 07:32 EST, 9 February 2014 | Updated: 07:33 EST, 9 February 2014

View
comments

It was Ron “Chopper” Harris at his brutal best, a cynical scythe to deny an opponent.

Barely three minutes were on the clock when the perpetrator cleaned out the goal-bound striker and was duly banished to the dressing-room.

Meet Wes “Chop ‘em Down” Brown.

VIDEO: Scroll down to watch Gus Poyet's post match interview

Liability! Sunderland defender (L) Wes Brown makes a rash challenge on Hull's Shane Long within minutes of the game starting

Early shower: Wes Brown earned his third red card of the season as Sunderland fight relegation

For in fouling Hull City’s Shane Long with the game in its infancy and so earning his third red card of the season, Brown was the cause of a 2-0 defeat Sunderland can ill afford.

The Black Cats are in the thick of the most unforgiving of survival scraps; Crystal Palace, West Ham and Swansea all won on Saturday.

To be reduced in number before 3.05pm is destructive, it undoes a week’s worth of training-ground preparation.

Just ask Fabio Borini, the striker who was sacrificed at 3.12pm as manager Gus Poyet scrambled for a solution to his needless loss.

Strike One! Wes Brown's first sending off of the season came against Stoke, although this was later rescinded

Brown, at 34 years old, should have known better. Argument, of course, can be offered for such a deliberate act with a contest in its dying embers and points at stake, but to do so at such an early juncture is baffling.

And this isn’t the first time the former Manchester United defender has confused supporters with his reckless action.

His first red card of the season at Stoke was, in fairness, later rescinded. Nonetheless, it was excessive in force and only spared sanction by his clear winning of the ball.

Brown, then, should have taken that escape as warning that such forceful tackles can lead to dismissal.

Strike Two! Wes Brown was sent off for an unnecessary two-footed tackle on Norwich striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel in December

Not likely. Against relegation rivals Norwich City on the Saturday before Christmas and with crucial festive fixtures ahead, an airborne Brown launched two-footed into Ricky van Wolfswinkel.

It was as if he had taken leave of his senses given the Norwich striker was going nowhere in the vicinity of the touchline.

Brown was sent off and banned for three matches for violent conduct.

He returned in January but, by the end of the month, was lucky to avoid yet another red.

Strike Three! Gaston Ramirez (R) has not played since being hacked down by Wes Brown in January

Southampton’s Gaston Ramirez, however, was not so fortunate. The Uruguayan was hacked down by Brown during the 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light and left the field receiving oxygen and in the direction of Sunderland Royal Infirmary. He has not appeared since.

And so to Saturday and Brown’s latest episode of negligence. He will now miss his side’s next two matches.

It could, however, be more – for Poyet has to decide if he can accommodate such a liability during the relegation run-in.