Walton is referee

Last updated : 08 September 2005 By Tony Scholes

That was his first season on the league list but the Northampton referee progressed quickly and took charge of his first Premiership game in October 23 at Molineux. That was the day Leicester led 3-0 at half time and ended the game losing it to Wolves 4-3.

He was labelled the worst referee in the Premiership by some last season and did have a habit of favouring the home clubs. In his only Burnley game there were no problems at all in the 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest although perhaps a stronger referee would have issued more than a yellow card to Gareth Taylor for his dreadful challenge on Ade Akinbiyi.

Maybe his reputation last season means he won’t get as many Premiership opportunities and so far only one of his five games this season have been in the top league. In those five games he has handed out eighteen yellow cards and one red. There’ll be no complaints at the red from Burnley fans either, that went to Yeovil’s Efe Sodje in their 4-2 defeat at Swindon.

Of those bookings, he couldn’t be more even with nine going to home team players and nine to away team players.

Tomorrow his assistant referees are Andy Garratt (West Midlands) and James Tattan (Merseyside). The fourth official is Jonathan Moss (Yorkshire) who is enjoying his first season as a Football League referee.

Previous Burnley games:

Season

Opps

V

Res

Y

R

Burnley players carded

a

2004/05

Nott'm Forest

a

0-1

1

0

.

2003/04

Rotherham

a

0-3

2

0

.

2002/03

Walsall

a

2-3

3

1

Cook, Taylor

2001/02

Stockport

a

2-0

3

1

Ian Moore, Thomas

1998/99

Luton

h

1-2

5

1

Branch, Davis, Mellon, Neil Moore(2Y)