CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe praised his players for keeping their discipline after the April suspension amnesty passed without any member of his squad receiving a ban for 10 bookings.

Any player hitting a double-figure count of yellow cards before the second Sunday of the month would have been hit with an automatic two-match suspension.

However, although the slate is not technically wiped clean, players will now only been banned for totting up 15 bookings before the end of the season, although the rules regarding red cards still apply.

Harry Arter, whose two yellow cards at West Ham in August did not count towards his tally as he was subsequently sent off, is currently on nine bookings. But, with just six games remaining, he should avoid a three-match ban for 15.

“It’s a nice position to be in,” said Howe, speaking exclusively to the Daily Echo.

“Suspensions are very difficult at this time of the season. If you lose players for two games due to hitting 10 bookings, it would have been a big blow for us.

“Every member of our squad is important so the fact we have been able to do that is good and it shows that, hopefully, the squad is maturing well.”