Geoff Eltringham takes charge of QPR for the first time in his refereeing career this Sunday as the R's host Aston Villa.
Referee >>> Geoff Eltringham (County Durham), eight seasons on the Football League list but no previous QPR appointments.
Assistants >>> John Flynn (Oxfordshire) and Matt Foley (Hertfordshire)
Fourth Official >>> Andy Davies (Hampshire)
No previous QPR appointments.
Back in 2010/11 Eltringham showed 13 red cards in just 30 appointments across the season, but he’s thankfully calmed down a little in more recent times.
He’s already bossed 20 matches this season split across all three Football League divisions, with 12 of those in the Championship. His running totals of 66 yellows and three reds are topped up by the eight bookings and one sending off in Villa’s recent home win against Cardiff where the visitors had Lee Peltier sent off late on and the home side sealed the win with a late penalty. Afterwards Uncle Neil Warnock said the referee had allowed himself to be conned by Villa’s Jack Grealish.
Last season Eltringham showed 93 yellows and eight reds in 37 games, with the six yellows and a red in Chesterfield’s 7 (seven) -1 win against Shrewsbury the season high.
Championship >>> Keith Stroud has Wigan v Ipswich and then, rather annoyingly, is back with us for the Christmas trip to Brighton. Cheers Santa.
League One >>> Darren Deadman at Swindon v Fleetwood — best of luck to both.