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Not only have there been a lack of games but he hasn’t been over enthusiastic with the cards when he has been in action. In fact in those five games he has shown just eight yellow cards and no more than two in any game. Five of those cards have gone to home team players and just three to away team players.
He has never been a referee to make over use of the yellow card and last season there were just over three per game with 111 in 36 games. There were though nine red cards although compared with some referees that is nothing.
In 2002 he has found it necessary to show just one red card and that was to Walsall’s French defender Frederick Biancalani in a 2-1 home defeat to Preston. He hardly had any option either as Biancalani stamped on a Preston player right in front of him with the game stopped.
His first Burnley game was a 1-1 home draw against Brentford in the 1997/98 season and he gave Andy Payton a yellow card along with one Brentford player.
He hardly endeared him to the fans in his next Burnley game, it was Stan’s first away game in charge of the Clarets at Chesterfield. With a point looking a certainty in a 0-0 draw he awarded the most ridiculous of penalties against substitute Ronnie Jepson for handball in stoppage time, a penalty that former Claret David Reeves converted. Andy Cooke and two Chesterfield players received yellow cards.
He booked John Mullin in a 0-0 draw at Bristol City in 1999/2000 before having a nightmare performance when we were beaten 1-0 at Wolves just after promotion. Andy Cooke and Paul Weller were booked in a game where Wolves always came first when he was giving decisions.
Since then there has been just one other game, last season’s first home game against Wimbledon. He booked Alan Moore and four Wimbledon players in a game the Clarets won 3-2.
It is hoped that tomorrow he will continue his quiet start to the season.