Lincolnshire’s Darren Drysdale takes charge of a QPR game for the first time since 2006 this weekend as the R’s host Blackburn Rovers.
Referee >>> Darren Drysdale (Lincolnshire), second QPR appointment of his career and first since way back in 2006.
Assistants >>> Nick Kinseley (Essex) and Richard Martin (Weston-super-Mare)
Fourth Official >>> Darren Blunden (Kent)
Reading 2 QPR 1, Sunday April 30, 2006, Championship
Langley then had a bit of handbags with Sidwell and we had the interesting sight of the referee holding Langley's arms down by putting his own arms around Langley and guiding him away from the others. The referee soon had them both shaking hands and it had all blown over. Sensible handling of the situation by the official and a good example of his level-headed control of the game.
But Reading managed to force some attacking moves and as the ball came in to the area, it hit Langley on the arm. The referee blew immediately for a Reading penalty and was surrounded by some Rangers players, who continued to complain. Presumably, they were arguing that it was ball-to-hand and accidental, but Langley's arm was away from his body so the referee really didn't have much option.
Dan Shittu, in particular, seemed to have the red mist. The complaining appeared to be going on for too long and you had to think that someone was going to talk themselves into the book. But the referee let the fuss peter out and eventually Gareth Ainsworth shepherded all the players away. Jake Cole tried to make himself big but went the wrong way and Murty smashed it into the net.
The relief of the home crowd was immense. Before the bit of pressure that resulted in the penalty, Rangers were having more and more control and mounting increasing attacks on their goal. They could see their party being spoilt.
If the Rangers players were upset by the penalty decision, they didn't let it affect their composure and continued to play an attractive passing game.
Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey, Sidwell, Sonko, Oster (Hunt), Kitson Harper, Ingimarsson, Convey (Gunarsson), Doyle (Long)
Subs Not Used: Stack, Makin
Goals: Kitson 41, Murty 81 pen.
QPR: Paul Jones 7 (Cole 8), Bignot 5 , Shittu 7, Santos 8*, Milanese 7, Langley 7, Ainsworth 6, Bailey 6 (Ray Jones 7) , Donnelly 6, Cook 7, Furlong 7.
Subs Not Used: Evatt, Howell, Munday.
Goals: Furlong 73
Ref: Darren Drysdale (Lincs) 8 - Came into the game with a reputation for brandishing cards but, in this game, he seemed to be more interested in keeping the cards in his pocket. He controlled the game with a lot of common sense and was always keen to keep the game flowing. We may not have liked the penalty decision but having seen the replay, I can see why he gave it. He was very good at talking to the players, either warning them quietly to watch themselves or explaining a decision.
Well Mr Drysdale has certainly been busy this season with another six cards at Portsmouth v Wycombe during the week taking his total to a hefty 55 yellows (3.437 a game) and seven reds in 16 appointments. Those totals are boosted somewhat by the three red cards dished out at Southend v Mansfield last month and the two given at Peterborough v MK Dons earlier in the season.
He’s already exceeded his total of six red cards from the whole of last season, when he also booked 105 (2.91 a game) in 36 games. That included five yellows in Blackburn’s 1-0 home win against Huddersfield at the end of the campaign, and three in their draw at Ipswich right at the start.
Premier League >>> Clearly no lasting damage done to Andre Marriner’s status by the Chelsea West Brom penalty debacle as he has Man Utd v Newcastle on Saturday lunchtime. Howard Webb gets Arsenal v Everton.
Championship >>> Trevor Kettle gets a rare Championship outing — which doesn’t bode well for us — at Leeds v Watford. Lee Probert drops down a division for Sheff Wed v Nottingham Forest.
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Pictures — Action Images