Fabian Delph has earned himself an unwelcome break over the busy New Year period after being sent off in Manchester City's defeat by Leicester.
Pep Guardiola's side were beaten 2-1 at the King Power on Boxing Day, a result that sees them slip down to third — seven points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Delph was shown a straight red card by referee Mike Dean with just a minute of normal time left to play on Wednesday.
He received his marching orders after catching Foxes defender Ricardo Pereira following a clearance.
After kicking the ball, both of Delph's feet came off the ground and he caught Pereira up around the Leicester player's knee.
The decision rubbed salt into the wounds for City, who have now suffered back-to-back defeats in the Premier League.
And Delph, who has made 15 appearances for City this season, faces a short spell on the sidelines for his troubles.
He will earn a three-match suspension, ruling him out of Sunday's visit to Southampton, City's mouth-watering clash with Liverpool on January 3, as well as their FA Cup third-round tie with Rotherham three days later.
The red card was Delph's second since joining City — and his third during his career.
He was sent off in last season's FA Cup clash at Wigan, which City went on to lose 1-0, while he was also shown his marching orders once while at Aston Villa.
Najeel
28
The picture when you show it like that it looks horrible, but it was a follow through and he got the ball first... it’s a foul but a red it’s harsh... Man City is not good playing physical games, like most there opponents love to play against them, most players are not strong enough specially front players and because of that they get frustrated quickly... city will bounce back and will get up on there feet again...