Lancashire official Paul Tierney is the referee in charge of this weekend’s top of the table clash between QPR and Leicester City.
Referee >>> Paul Tierney (Lancashire), only the second QPR appointment of his career and the first since early 2010.
Assistants >>> Ian Cooper (Kent) and Mark Pottage (Dorset)
Fourth Official >>> Fred Graham (Essex)
http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/news/5132>QPR 2 Plymouth 0, Tuesday March 9, 2010, Championship
Priskin on the other hand just continued to frustrate - his hold up play and aerial ability was at times Sunday league standard. However, on 34 minutes he did finally decide to use his size to good effect as he won the penalty for the opening goal. Connolly once again joined the attack down the right flank and delivered a beautiful cross and Priskin was stupidly held by Argyle centre half Kari Arnason. There was no need for the challenge as Priskin looked as though he was struggling to reach the ball anyway. Referee Tierney pointed to the spot and Taarabt grabbed hold of the ball, despite a half-hearted moan by Priskin, and coolly slotted the ball home to give Rangers the lead they richly deserved.
A flurry of yellow cards came and went with Mr Tierney seeming to lose control of the game which was a shame as he produced a near perfect refereeing performance in the first half. Matt Hill was the first Rangers player to succumb to the fussy second half performance, as he was booked for a harsh looking handball. Connolly was then carded for a soft looking foul on Judge.
Plymouth, who had four booked themselves in the second half, were the worst side I have seen at Loftus Road in a long time, they worked hard but had no attacking options resulting in a failure to have any shots on target — but what would you expect from a midfield consisting of Damien Johnson, Karl Duguid and Carl Fletcher.
QPR: (4-4-1-1) Ikeme 7, Connolly 7, Hill 6, Stewart 8, Gorkss 7, Ephraim 7 (Cook 6), Faurlin 7, Leigertwood 8, Taarabt 9 (Buzsaky 6), Priskin 6, Simpson 7 (Vine 5)
Subs not used: Cerny, Ramage, Borrowdale, German
Goals: Taarabt 36 (penalty), Stewart 49 (assisted Taarabt)
Bookings: Hill (handball), Connolly (foul)
Plymouth: (4-5-1) Stockdale 5, Duguid 4, Fletcher 5, Johnson 6, Mackie 6, Arnason 4, Fallon 6 (Mason 6), Barker 5, Sawyer 6, Eckersley 5, Judge 6 (Bolasie 7)
Subs not used:Larrieu, McNamee, Summerfield, Wright-Phillips, Cooper
Bookings: Barker (dissent), Eckersley (foul), Duguid (foul)
Referee — Paul Tierney (Lancashire) 5 During the first period I failed to notice the referee which means he played a blinder in my opinion, the penalty decision was the major talking point and he got that spot on. Second half Mr Tierney was replaced by a fussy, card happy chap who turned a free flowing game into a niggley affair.
A top of the table clash is a big appointment for Paul Tierney, and suggests he’s in line for promotion into the Premier League fairly soon. This season he has booked 47 and sent off six in 14 games which is an average of 3.57 yellow cards a game. His red cards have come in clutches — three at Burton v Bristol Rovers, and two at Blackpool v Blackburn Rovers. His biggest haul in a single game was six yellows and a red at Tranmere v Port Vale in League One. He has shown at least one card in every game he has refereed this season.
Last season he showed a reasonably low 72 yellows and just four reds in 35 games — 2.057 a game. He refereed Leicester in their 1-1 home draw with Leeds when he booked two players, and their 2-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday when four saw yellow. He kept the cards in his pocket altogether on seven separate occasions and his biggest haul in a single game was only four yellows and a red at Barnsley v Burnley.
Premier League >>> Arsenal v Chelsea on Monday night goes the way of Mike Dean.
League One >>> Trevor Kettle has Orient v Crawley, Gavin Ward has Swindon v Coventry.
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Pictures — Action Images