Cup ref is Dean Whitestone who is visiting for the first time this season. Both games he was in charge of in 2023/2024 went against us with Coventry winning 3-0 and Ipswich beating us 0-2 at the Riverside, though in 2022/2023 he was there for two 1-3 away wins at Hull and Birmingham with Owen Goal, Crooks and Chuba getting two each. In his twelve Championship games this season, he has shown 43 yellows so near enough 3.5 per game, but whilst three games saw only one yellow, another three had seven, so it could be a game where a lot is allowed to be waved on or very much the opposite. The other thing to note is that he has not show a red or given a penalty in any of this season's games...... so far, and he only gave two penalties in all of last season, so in 41 games that's two spot kicks. This seems a little unusual but maybe it is just one of those things (like unpunished kicks in the face), so suspect that it may be just that he isn't fooled by players going to the floor easily. Either way, hopefully he does better than Mr. Nield (crosses fingers, toes, eyes) 🙂        

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/3427581

Deja vu...   all over again..

Ref for Portsmouth game is the (n)ever popular Gavin Ward who we are meeting for the first time this season after being graced by his skills twice last season, 0-1 defeat to Millwall and 2-2 draw away to Hull. Possibly the only official that has had a petition started on change.org requesting that he be banned for the season and one of those refs that is viewed with trepidation by supporters of many clubs. Up to now, 6 reds this season including 2 double yellows along with 4 penalties to go with the 62 yellows. There are games where he only waves cards 2 or 3 times, but 5+ is more common. On Tuesday, we will see the return of Andrew Kitchen just over a month after he was in charge of the home game against Burnley. Hopefully one of his decent games but crossing my fingers it is not time for the eight carders he likes to surprise people with  

2 minutes ago, Old Codger said:

Ref for Portsmouth game is the (n)ever popular Gavin Ward who we are meeting for the first time this season after being graced by his skills twice last season, 0-1 defeat to Millwall and 2-2 draw away to Hull. Possibly the only official that has had a petition started on change.org requesting that he be banned for the season and one of those refs that is viewed with trepidation by supporters of many clubs. Up to now, 6 reds this season including 2 double yellows along with 4 penalties to go with the 62 yellows. There are games where he only waves cards 2 or 3 times, but 5+ is more common. On Tuesday, we will see the return of Andrew Kitchen just over a month after he was in charge of the home game against Burnley. Hopefully one of his decent games but crossing my fingers it is not time for the eight carders he likes to surprise people with  

Oh well if it's Gavin Ward it's probably going to be a Circus on Saturday.

Does that mean he will be wearing a red nose and the name of Pennywise on the back of his kit 🙂 

21 minutes ago, Old Codger said:

Does that mean he will be wearing a red nose and the name of Pennywise on the back of his kit 🙂 

As I can't post a picture, Just imagine him with white face make up and a bright red wig in his Refs outfit.

Might as well include the linos 🙂 

Glad we didn't have the referee from the Burnley v Sunderland match tonight, donkey.

Edit: turns out that's the guy from the Sheff Wed debacle, so he's just keeping up his tradition of being a poor ref.

Edited January 17, 20251 yr by TeaCider24

Ref didn't cost us. 👍🏻

I feel like Portsmouth probably could have had a penalty, so if anything he helped us.

Preston ref is John Busby who was in charge of two games last season, away to Bristol and Stoke ...  both defeats. Season before he did the 1-1 draw with Coventry and the 4-2 defeat to Huddersfield but prior to that, the 1-3 victory at Cardiff.  Safe to say we don't have much luck with him but it is what it is. Last game was Plymouth v Burnley where he only showed on yellow. Averages four per game so hopefully he has an eye on PNE if they try to emulate Riverside antics but as usual, all we can hope is that he gets most things right and we do the business and hope Emil Riis has an off day 🙂   

Busby’s photo does figure on my CSI evidence and conspiracy wall of referee’s with Boro grudges as yet, but I do have space, although I am running low on string for linkages.

Man in the Middle on Monday is Stephen "Doc" Martin, who we have already hosted twice so far this season and although he has shown 14 yellows in those matches, we won  them both, beating Stoke 2-0 and Hull 3-1, so fingers crossed his run continues. In his last three matches, he has shown 16 yellows and it is evident from the 11 he brandished in the Stoke game that he can "lose it" to the extent that he even booked Azaz for a foul, though he did fail to punish the worst one as he had already booked Gallagher a few minutes before, so he asked him nicely not to do that again. With luck, he may notice the robust methods employed by certain defenders who shall remain O'Nameless, but either way, I am not overly confident of witnessing a free-flowing feast of football.   

Referee was absolutely fine and got nothing wrong.

1 hour ago, TeaCider24 said:

Referee was absolutely fine and got nothing wrong.

There were a few debateable decisions but nothing too extreme and it was balanced on both sides. I think VAR may have changed a few calls but then we'd probably have been down to 10 men. Overall a good performance.

On 1/29/2025 at 1:08 PM, Old Codger said:

Man in the Middle on Monday is Stephen "Doc" Martin, who we have already hosted twice so far this season and although he has shown 14 yellows in those matches, we won  them both, beating Stoke 2-0 and Hull 3-1, so fingers crossed his run continues. In his last three matches, he has shown 16 yellows and it is evident from the 11 he brandished in the Stoke game that he can "lose it" to the extent that he even booked Azaz for a foul, though he did fail to punish the worst one as he had already booked Gallagher a few minutes before, so he asked him nicely not to do that again. With luck, he may notice the robust methods employed by certain defenders who shall remain O'Nameless, but either way, I am not overly confident of witnessing a free-flowing feast of football.   

Ahem…. There’s only one Doc Martin 🧐 

I thought he was a good ref last night apart from failing to disallow all 3 of their goals on a technicality.