One-match ban for three Hibs players and Valletta duo

Hibs' hopes of bouncing back from their 2-1 defeat to Valletta suffered a blow yesterday when three of their first-choice players received a one-match ban.

Midfielder Andrew Cohen and left-back Adrian Pulis have been suspended after both collected a fourth caution during last Saturday's match while Portuguese forward Miguel Lopes de Pina has been sanctioned for his red card in the dying moments of the Valletta defeat.

The Hibs trio have been ruled out of Saturday's match against Birkirkara, who are sharing top spot with Valletta on 26 points.

Valletta will be without two players for their clash with Sliema Wanderers, also on Saturday, as winger Doding Priso and right-back Steve Borg have been suspended for one match.

Manolito Micallef, of Ħamrun Spartans, also earned his fourth yellow card in his side's 2-1 win over Floriana and has been subsequently banned for one match.

The former Floriana midfielder will serve his ban in Sunday's Relegation Pool match against Dingli Swallows.

In Division One, Winston Muscat, the Vittoriosa Stars coach, has been slapped with a 10-match touchline ban. Muscat was ordered off the bench in the dying stages of his side's 1-0 defeat to Melita last weekend.