Stroud is man in the middle

The last time Stroud took charge of the Clarets was on 2^nd January 2006 in a game we drew 1-1 at QPR. He had a decent enough game that afternoon, much better than his only other Burnley game earlier that season when we had him at Plymouth.

Just a few weeks later he was awarded his first game in the Premier League but it was only last season when he started to get a few games at the top level. Tomorrow night will be his first ever Chelsea game.

This season he's averaging just over three yellow cards per game with 28 in nine games whilst the only player he's sent off is Northampton's Jason Crowe in their home draw with Peterborough. Those yellow cards are even for home and away players with fourteen each.

Unlike the referee on Saturday he doesn't come into this game with a run of games that have upset various managers and I don't think we can expect anything like the sort of performance we were so unfortunate to witness at Wolves.

He will be assisted by Stephen Child (Kent) and Michael Bull (Essex) whilst card happy Rutland referee Trevor Kettle will have the fourth official duties.

Previous Burnley games:

Season	Opps	V	Res	Y	R	Burnley players carded
a
2005/06	Plymouth	a	0-1	7	0	Duff Harley
2005/06	QPR	a	1-1	2	0	McGreal Sinclair