Thorpe at Bristol

Thorpe was the referee for the first defeat during that awful run of ours last season and was also in charge in the very last game of that run without a win. That last game was the dreadful 0-0 home game against Luton, but he'll be remembered for his performance at Coventry when he just about single-handedly presented the home side with the points with a series of shocking decisions.

The worst were the penalty he gave against John McGreal and then the one he didn't give us for the clear foul on Gifton Noel-Williams. Having said that this is the only one of three Burnley games where he's been poor although in all three games he's wanted to be centre of attention and not allowed the game to flow, preferring to stop it at every opportunity. He's a referee who is likely to bring back a free kick if it is taken a couple of feet away from where he thinks it should have been taken from.

This referee isn't the most card happy. Last season in 37 games he handed out 109 yellow cards, just under three per game, with six red cards. This season to date, there have been fifteen yellow cards in seven games, just about two per game. Of those fifteen, just five have gone to home team players with the other ten being given to away team players.

He will be assisted at Ashton Gate by Guy Beale (Somerset) and Phil Gibbs (West Midlands) with fourth official duties in the hands of Simon Snartt (Gloucestershire).

Previous Burnley games:

Season	Opps	V	Res	Y	R	Burnley players carded
a
2006/07	Luton	h	0-0	0	0	.
2006/07	Coventry	a	0-1	4	0	Harley J O'Connor McCann
2005/06	Crystal Palace	a	0-2	4	0	G O'Connor McCann