Boss Paul Lambert insisted Aston Villa are not a dirty team -- despite their third red card in four games.
Midfielder Fabian Delph was sent off in the second half for a rash tackle on Jordi Gomez as Villa held on for a 0-0 draw against Sunderland in the Premier League.
Kieran Richardson and Gabriel Agbonlahor have been dismissed this month, although Agbonlahor's red against Manchester United was rescinded.
Christian Benteke was also sent off in November after clashing with Ryan Mason against Tottenham -- but Lambert has defended his side.
"We're not a dirty team, we don't have anyone really who is a dirty player,'' he said. "Look at the lads who have been sent off -- they are not malicious at all.
"It doesn't look great but the lads are committed to the challenge. Gabby's one wasn't that but Kieran's I understand because his studs were showing. Benteke was provoked as I said at the time.''
And Sunderland boss Gus Poyet, who worked with Delph when he was assistant manager at Leeds, sympathised with the England international.
"It's Fabian Delph, it's the way he plays football and maybe his reputation,'' he said. "Sometimes players can make three or four fouls and get a yellow and Fabian makes one tackle and if it looks a little dangerous he gets a red.
"It's unlucky but saying that if you see it and stop the video and see the studs in his ankle, if it's another three inches up it could be a broken leg.
"It's dangerous. Sometimes you get away with those tackles. He brings something extra to the pitch and sometimes that could get a red card.
"At Leeds I can tell you Dennis Wise received a few from Fab in training. I really like him and I feel sad for him but it was a little bit dangerous and we need to be fair to the referee.''
But Poyet, who again called for a winter break, was disappointed his side failed to make the breakthrough against 10 men.
Gomez hit the post from 20 yards late on with the best chance of a dour game which rarely looked like sparking.
"We draw too many games,'' he said, after Sunderland's 11th draw of the league season. "We lost a good opportunity to take the three points, especially after the sending off. It was a great opportunity to win it.
"We tried too hard, we went a little crazy, we lost the shape and we didn't do the right things -- but we tried.''
Lambert added: "I'm satisfied with a point under the circumstances. It's hard enough playing against 10 men any time but with two games in two days the lads were running on empty.
"All credit to the lads, we could have won it and had chances at the end.''