Pike for Clarets game

Last Updated : 22-Dec-2006 by
He's been to Burnley a number of times, as well as refereeing us away from Turf Moor, and I cannot recall too many controversial incident in any of the games. Apart from a game a couple of seasons ago when he was letting one handball after another go unpunished he's a referee who has in general had very good games.

Neither is he a referee who will go card crazy at the merest hint of a foul. Last season in 26 games he only handed out 35 yellow and 3 red cards and his record to date this season is hardly any higher although he has reached two yellow cards per game.

So far this season it is just two per game with 32 yellow cards from 16 games, and 15 of those cards have gone to home team players and the other 17 to away team players. His red card has remained firmly in his pocket, and the last time he sent off a player was in an FA Cup 1st round tie between Macclesfield and Yeovil in November 2005.

His last Burnley game was in September of last year, the 3-0 win over Ipswich, and in that game he didn't yellow card a single player, although he could, and should, have awarded us a penalty when Ade Akinbiyi was pulled back by Ipswich defender James McEveley.

Overall, there can be no real complaints at this appointment, a referee who doesn't want to steal the limelight and will allow the players to play some football.

He will be assisted by Mick McDonough (Tyne & Wear) and Brian Parry (Co Durham) whilst the fourth official duties will be carried out by Jock Waugh (Yorkshire).

Previous Burnley games:

Season

Opps

V

Res

Y

R

Burnley players carded

a

2005/06

Ipswich

h

3-0

0

0

.

2004/05

Watford

h

3-1

0

0

.

2004/05

Ipswich

h

0-2

4

0

Duffy Roche

2003/04

Reading

h

3-0

3

0

Chaplow

2001/02

Grimsby

a

1-3

0

0

.

2001/02

Sheffield Wed

h

1-2

1

0

Gnohere

2000/01

Norwich

h

2-0

5

0

Ball Branch

1999/2000

Man City

a

0-5

1

0

Crichton

1998/99

Wycombe

h

1-1

4

0

Cooke

1997/98

Millwall

h

1-2

1

0

Cooke