James Linington returns to Loftus Road for the second time in his fledgling referee career as QPR face Barnsley on the opening day of the Championship season.

Referee >>> James Linington, Isle of Wight, third season on list, one previous QPR appointment.

Assistants >>> Andy Davies, Hertfordshire, Rob Whitton, Essex.

Fourth Official >>> Carl Berry, Surrey

Previously

Saturday August 22, 2009, QPR 1 Nottingham Forest 1

”Helguson was involved again right on the stroke of full time as Camp came out of his area to deal with a long through ball and then very much in the style that cost him so dearly in QPR colours at Norwich the season before last when on a bit of a dribbling expedition. Time seemed to stand still as the ball, and Camp, stopped 40 yards out from goal and the keeper seemed to believe referee Linington had blown his whistle. I certainly had not heard it and neither had Helguson who executed a perfect tackle on the keeper and was then wrestled to the ground as he attempted to find the empty net from distance. With a foul and red card seemingly the only option the home crowd was immensely frustrated to see a flag now raised against Helguson for offside which, bearing in mind camp had touched the ball three times before Helguson had even tried to chase him back, seemed a little farfetched to me. No cards from the referee on the day which was a good thing but one or two of his decisions were eccentric to say the least. - LFW Forest match report

QPR: Cerny 7, Ramage 6, Hall 5 (Gorkss 46, 6), Stewart 6, Borrowdale 6,Routledge 7, Leigertwood 7, Faurlin 7, Pellicori 5 (Vine 61, 5), Helguson 5,Taarabt 6 (Buzsaky 66, 6)

Subs Not Used: Heaton, Mahon, Agyemang, Connolly

Goals: Leigertwood 25 (assisted Routledge)

Nottm Forest Camp 7, Gunter 6, Morgan 6, Lynch 6 (McCleary 46, 6), Cohen 7, Chambers 6, Majewski 8, McKenna 7, Garner 6, Adebola 7 (Blackstock 71, 7),McGoldrick 7 (Tyson 75, 6)

Subs Not Used: Smith, Anderson, Earnshaw, Davies

Goals: McGoldrick 57 (assisted Adebola)

Referee: J Linington (Hampshire) 5 Some perplexing stuff at times although there were no bookings which is a positive. The most frustrating thing for me was his consistent reward of play acting – Adebola’s theatrical falls to earth became a joke as the game went on and yet he gave him a free kick every single time, likewise with Taarabt who we all know is never shy of hitting the deck. The incident with Camp and Helguson in the last minute was a poorly managed farce.

Joint 17th on the referee league.

Stats

Linington showed 75 yellow cards (2.272 a match) and two reds in 33 matches last season. His biggest card haul in a single game was five – he booked five players at Wembley in May as he took charge of the play off final between Dagenham and Redbridge and Rotherham, and booked four and sent another off in a 2-2 draw between Bristol City and Watford at Christmas. In 2008/09, his first on the league list, Linington booked 58 (2.9 a game) and sent three off in 20 matches. Only one of those matches was in the Championship, Watford’s 3-0 home win against Burnley.

Other listings

League One >>> Trevor Kettle, Rutland, twice bottom of the LFW referee league, takes Notts County v Huddersfield. Gavin Ward, Staffordshire, harshly sent off Damion Stewart and awarded Reading a late penalty for a rating of 1/10 at Reading last season, has Peterborough v Bristol Rovers.

League Cup >>> Gary Sutton, Lincolnshire, has QPR v Port Vale on Tuesday night.

Photo: Action Images via Reuters

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