He's not been a regular as far as Burnley are concerned and this will be just his sixth game with the Clarets which started with the game at Crewe in the 2004/05 season when the lights went out.
He used to be one of the quieter referees in terms of yellow cards but he does seem to have started making up for lost time this season. In 19 games so far he's brandished no fewer than 80 yellow cards but to date the dismissal of Bikey last season remains his last red card.
Most of our referees who officiate in Europe tend to have quieter nights in terms of cards than they do in domestic football. That's not been the case with Atkinson this season. In five Champions League games he's handed out 23 yellows, including eight twice.
That leaves him with 53 yellow cards in 14 domestic games this season. For much of the season he's been higher with his home cards but a run recently the other way has seen it balanced out and he's now yellow carded 28 home players and 29 away players.
Tomorrow he will be assisted by David Richardson (West Yorkshire) and Phil Sharp (Hertfordshire). Fourth official is Football League referee Anthony Taylor (Wythenshawe).
Previous Burnley games:
Season | Opps | V | Res | Y | R | Burnley players carded |
a | ||||||
2004/05 | Crewe | a | 1-1 | 1 | 0 | Whittingham |
2004/05 | Sheffield Utd | a | 1-2 | 2 | 0 | Cahill |
2006/07 | Norwich | h | 2-0 | 2 | 0 | Caldwell |
2008/09 | Tottenham | a | 1-4 | 1 | 0 | Duff |
2008/09 | Reading | h | 1-0 | 1 | 1 | . |