Preston’s Edward Duckworth is the man in the middle for this Saturday’s homer with Bristol City, having made his debut at this level in the corresponding fixture.

Referee >>> Edward Duckworth (Preston), made his Championship debut in QPR’s 2-1 win at Bristol City earlier this season.

Assistants >>> Emily Carney (Bolton) and Hristo Karaivanov (Sutton-in-Ashfield)

Fourth Official >>> Elliott Swallow (Lancashire)

History

Bristol City 1-2 QPR, Saturday October 4, 2025, Championship

Bristol City: Vitek 5; Tanner 5 (Mayulu 86, -), Dickie 5, Atkinson 5; Sykes 6 (McCrorie 55, 5), Twine 5 (Hirakawa 67, 5), Randell 6, Vyner 5, Borges 6; Riis 6 (Armstrong 68, 4), Mehmeti 6

Subs not used: Cornick, Lumley, Morrison, Pecover, Roberts

Goals: Riis 32 (assisted Borges)

Yellow Cards: Sykes 29 (off ball incident), Mehmeti 48 (foul), Vyner 73 (dissent), Hirakawa 90+5 (foul)

QPR: Nardi 6; Dunne 6, Morrison 6, Cook 7, Esquerdinha 5; Dembele 5 (Smyth 65, 7), Varane 6, Madsen 7, Saito 6 (Vale 65, 7); Burrell 6 (Frey 90+3, -), Kone 7 (Kolli 83, -)

Subs not used: Adamson, Field, Hamer, Hayden, Morgan

Goals: Kone 66 (assisted Vale), Smyth 86 (assisted Dunne)

Yellow Cards: Kone 51 (foul)

Referee – Edward Duckworth (Preston) 6 A first ever Championship game. I said this the other week but it’s really quite difficult to tell how a referee is doing with this modern trend for histrionics, hands on head, oh-my-God, as if everything he gives is the worst decision anybody’s ever seen in their lives – call it ‘doing the Lewis Travis’ if you like because his performance in particular is really something to behold. Twice it looked like Esquerdinha had been killed in this game, Sykes booked in the first incident, only for him to get up and sprint off afterwards. Bristol City’s first goal might have been called a throw in or a goal kick in QPR’s favour – 50/50 decisions about which Jimmy Dunne charged around the pitch arms flailing in mock disbelief. Paul Nardi might have got a finger to a second half shot wide, a goal kick was awarded in Rangers’ favour, Vyner went so over the top in protest he got booked. Paul Smyth’s goal might have been disallowed for a push, but rather than the Bristol City defence all appealing as one how about… defend a bit better/stronger? You've been pushed over by Paul Smyth, I'd be too ashamed to speak to the referee about his performance after that. The one I did think he got wrong was the late Dunne challenge on Borges where it looked to me like he just charged into the guy and was lucky not to concede a penalty. Not exactly blatant, but I’d lean more towards probably was. These are all fairly marginal calls though. Referee was mostly fine.

Stats

Having started in the Lancashire Sunday League, Duckworth joined the National League list in 2022/23. He was, at this point, the FA’s national talent manager for officials, but has stepped back from that role to focus on his own refereeing career and was promoted into the EFL to referee in Leagues One and Two the season after.

His first EFL season brought 138 yellows (4.18) and six reds from 33 appointments in the bottom two divisions and cup competitions. That was topped out by a chunky ten yellows and red in Cambridge 0-0 Burton in League One. There were two other ten-card hauls among his 2024/25 offering too – ten yellows at Tranmere 0-0 Salford and another ten at Bolton 2-1 Blackpool.

He’s done a hefty 35 games so far this season with 138 yellows (3.94) shown along with seven reds topped out by seven yellows and a red in Bristol Rovers 0-1 Notts County in the bottom division. Having made his second tier debut in our win at Ashton Gate he subsequently refereed Bristol City 0-1 Millwall there a month later and now has five Championship games to his name.

Pictures - Reuters Connect

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