Bates at Leeds

Last updated : 22 November 2005 By Tony Scholes

Bates was in charge of our last home game of last season when we beat Plymouth 2-0 and that was the first time we had won a game with this particular referee. He’s not had a particularly bad game when refereeing the Clarets, just that he’s been there for some bad days such as that 4-0 defeat at Coventry two seasons ago, the opening day of the season defeat against Brighton in 2002 and the famous day when Stan sacked four players.

He’s averaging just about three yellow cards per game this season with 41 from 14 games and he’s also sent off two players in those games. The first of the players sent off was Swansea’s Kevin Austin in their home game against Bristol City. It hardly had much effect on the result, they already led 7-1. That was back in September and just last month DJ Campbell of Brentford became the second player to receive a red card from Bates and they went on to win 1-0 at Oldham.

If there are any real concerns for us tonight then he’s continuing the form of previous seasons and booking far more away players than home players. Only 13 of those yellow cards have gone the way of home players with the other 28 going to away players.

Tonight’s assistant referees are David Foster (Tyne & Wear) and Chris Reeves (Yorkshire) with fourth official duties to be carried out by Keith Lawson (Lincolnshire).

Previous Burnley games:

Season

Opps

V

Res

Y

R

Burnley players carded

a

2004/05

Plymouth

h

2-0

4

0

Akinbiyi, Branch, Sinclair

2003/04

Coventry

a

0-4

2

0

Jensen, May

2003/04

Millwall

h

1-1

2

0

West

2002/03

Nott'm Forest

a

0-2

2

0

Ian Moore, McGregor

2002/03

Brighton

h

1-3

3

1

Gonhere(red)

2001/02

Bradford C

h

1-1

3

0

Gascoigne, Thomas

1998/99

York

h

0-1

3

0

Scott, Neil Moore

1997/98

Bristol City

a

1-3

3

0

Barnes, Beresford, Vinnicombe