Bates takes charge

Bates is no stranger to Burnley games, and until a couple of years ago he hadn't caused us too many problems. His last two Burnley games haven't followed that pattern and have been very disappointing. At Leeds two seasons ago he had a nightmare spell in the second half and last season at Southampton he failed to take stern enough action against the home side.

The home side at times were trying to wind up Wayne Thomas, just as they had done in the home game, and on more than one occasion. Bates spotted all the Rasiak dives, and spoke to him on numerous occasions but without taking any action against him.

In previous years he'd caused us no problems, even on the opening day of the 2002/03 season when he sent off Arthur Gnohere. He doesn't go over the top with yellow cards, but we need to be aware that he is a referee who does hit the away teams more often than the home teams.

Last season in 40 games he handed out 116 yellow cards, with 44 of them going to home team players and 72 to away team players. Three of his four red cards also went to away team players, the only home player he sent off was Paul McVeigh playing for Norwich, and in that incident he also sent off Cardiff's Kerrea Gilbert.

Tomorrow's game will be his third game of the season. He was in charge of Neil McDonald's last match as Carlisle manager last Saturday when the drew at Walsall and in midweek he was referee for the Carling Cup tie at the Bristol Rovers v Crystal Palace which also ended 1-1, Bristol Rovers winning on penalties. There's been just three yellow cards in those two games, needless to say all going to away team players.

He will be assisted tomorrow at Glanford Park by Brian Parry (Co. Durham) and Jock Waugh (South Yorkshire) and the fourth official will be Keith Lawson (Lincolnshire).

Previous Burnley games:

Season	Opps	V	Res	Y	R	Burnley players carded
a
2006/07	Southampton	a	0-0	3	0	Elliott Harley
2005/06	Leeds	a	0-2	5	0	Jensen, McGreal, Sinclair
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(R)
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