RYAN Ledson and James Henry have successfully avoided the threat of a suspension.

The pair have been walking a tightrope for a month after collecting their fourth bookings of the season.

Another caution would have triggered a one-game ban, but Tuesday night’s match was the cut-off.

In previous seasons the deadline has been a date, but this campaign it has been changed to 19 games.

It means Henry and Ledson will not incur a punishment if they are booked by Dean Whitestone at Roots Hall.

But with Southend having only played 18 games, Jason Demetriou and Simon Cox would be banned if cautioned tomorrow.

The next cut-off, for ten bookings, is after 37 league games, which at it stands for United is the trip to AFC Wimbledon on March 10.