Tanner set for Turf Moor debut

He's had a quiet week in terms of cards, just three in the two games, but he came in for some criticism of his handling of the game at Accrington, and he is a referee who has more than once found himself on the end of harsh comments from managers.

The first time we came across him was at Coventry two seasons ago when he had an absolute shocker, we'd been warned that he was a referee who favoured the home team and how we found that out. Three of the four cards that day came our way and we won the game despite him.

It was away from Turf Moor last season that our paths crossed again, and this time he had a quiet enough game in front of the television cameras when we won 1-0 at Molineux. A week earlier though he had really upset the Midget in a Suit from Preston.

Our opponents tonight had drawn 1-1 at Palace but Tanner had handed out six cards, four yellow and two red, and all six had gone to Preston players.

Last season he handed out no fewer than 129 yellow and 9 red cards in 37 games. No fewer than 86 of those yellow cards went to away players as did all but two of the red cards. This season has seen little change in that pattern, 22 of his 29 yellow cards have gone to away team players as have both red cards.

That should all mean that Preston will need to be more on their guard when his cards come out of his pocket, but there again the homers usually have a day off when they come to Burnley.

He will be assisted by Tony Horton (West Midlands) and David Richardson (Yorkshire) whilst Lancashire's Lee Mason will act as fourth official, he was refereeing in the Premiership only last week.