Saturday 16th January 2010
Kick off 3pm unless stated
Chelsea vs Sunderland
C Foy C Richards M Mullarkey P Crossley
My Verdict:
Should be an easy enough match for Chris Foy with no real controversy in this fixture over recent seasons. Only one red card in the last five matches between these two so no real rivalry between them. If Foy referees this match like he does most others then the game should pass without him being noticed.
Foy's last match at Stamford Bridge was in October 2008 as he took charge of Chelsea's 2-0 win over Aston Villa.
His last Sunderland away game was this season's trip to Burnley where he awarded the home side a penalty for a foul against Anton Ferdinand in the Black Cats' 3-1 defeat.
Card History:
Games: 21 Yellow Cards: 70 Red Cards: 3
Everton vs Manchester City (5.30pm)
A Marriner D Coote R West D Whitestone
My Verdict:
Andre Marriner is within my top 3 referees this season, so any game he is appointed to should be refereed very well. Like the Chelsea vs Sunderland game, there hasn't been any contentious issues between these two clubs. One red card in the last five meetings between the two clubs. Should be a well handled game, although Marriner has already shown seven red cards this season.
Marriner's last visit to Goodison Park was in December's 2-2 draw with Tottenham, a match in which he produced eight yellow cards and awarded a stoppage time penalty to Tottenham, but Defoe missed it.
He last refereed Man City on the road back in April, in City's 2-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates.
Card History:
Games: 18 Yellow Cards: 62 Red Cards: 7
Manchester United vs Burnley
L Probert D Richardson R Madley A Wiley
My Verdict:
Lee Probert has had a very mixed season so far. He refereed the South Wales derby earlier in the season and put in a stirling performance, but then had a shocker at Goodison Park in the Everton vs Aston Villa, so not really sure which Lee Probert will turn up at Old Trafford. If the same Probert walks out on the pitch on Saturday that took charge of the Cardiff vs Swansea game then it should go ok.
This will be Probert's first ever visit to Old Trafford so hopefully he won't be too overawed by the occasion.
His last Burnley away game was their 3-1 defeat to Cardiff last season when they were still in the Championship.
Card History:
Games: 17 Yellow Cards: 56 Red Cards: 2
Portsmouth vs Birmingham City
A Taylor T Massey M Yerby P Walton
My Verdict:
Well this will be Mr Taylor's first ever Premier League game and hopefully it'll go ahead unlike Michael Oliver's game last weekend that should have been his first.
The reverse fixture between these two was controversial. Not only were Portsmouth given five yellow cards in the game, but Birmingham were awarded a last minute penalty by the assistant referee for a foul by David James.
Taylor has been performing consistently well at Football League level over the past two seasons and has been given his opportunity to step up to the big time.
Card History:
Games: 20 Yellow Cards: 48 Red Cards: 3
Stoke City vs Liverpool (12.45pm)
L Mason S Long M Matadar S Attwell
My Verdict:
Lee Mason has had a good season so far, that is when he hasn't refereed Liverpool. He has already refereed Liverpool three previous times this season and has sent off three of their players in the process. No doubt Mr Benitez will be furious by the appointment, but I think it's good to see that managers can't pull strings and decide which referee they want.
Mason's last match at The Brittania was Stoke's 1-0 win over Middlesbrough back in March.
His last Liverpool away game was their 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth, a match in which he sent off Javier Mascherano.
Card History:
Games: 21 Yellow Cards: 63 Red Cards: 5 (All to Away team players)
Tottenham Hotspur vs Hull City
M Atkinson P Kirkup P Sharp M Russell
My Verdict:
England's number two takes charge of the game at Whitehart Lane. Martin Atkinson has been performing at the highest level of his game both in England and in Europe with some good appointments in the Champions League in both Milan and Seville.
He has refereed some of the biggest matches this season, none more so that the Manchester derby at Old Trafford where he was criticised by Man City manager Mark Hughes for allowing United's winner to stand even though it had been scored after the allotted five minutes of added time.
Tottenham and Hull fans should be pleased by this appointment as I believe you will get a game that is sensibly refereed, plus Atkinson has not produced a red card so far this season.
Atkinson's last game at Whitehart Lane was their 1-0 win over West Ham back in April
His last Hull away game was their 4-1 defeat at Sunderland back in September
Card History:
Games: 23 Yellow Cards: 93 Red Cards: 0
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Wigan Athletic
H Webb D Cann M Cairns P Gibbs
My Verdict:
England's top official takes centre stage at Molineux this weekend as he referees what looks to be a battle between two teams trying to avoid the chop from the Premier League. Webb has shown red cards in both of his last two games so both fans will be hoping that Howard doesn't make it a hat-trick in this game.
Webb's last match at Molineux was Wolves' 1-0 defeat to Portsmouth.
His last Wigan away game was their 2-0 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage back in October last 2008.
Card History:
Games: 17 Yellow Cards: 59 Red Cards: 2
Sunday 17th January 2010
Aston Villa vs West Ham United (1.30pm)
M Jones S Ledger S Child H Webb
My Verdict:
Not really sure what to make of this appointment. Mike Jones hasn't looked the same referee since he was involved in the beachball incident in the Sunderland vs Liverpool game. He has had some pretty poor performances in Burnley's games with Hull and Fulham respectively.
This is a fixture that could be quite spicy with 14 yellow cards and 1 red card being shown in the last three meetings, and i'm not sure whether or not Jones will be able to cope, I just hope for you Villa and Hammers fans that he can.
Jones' last visit to Villa Park was their 0-0 draw with Fulham in November 2008.
He has never refereed a West Ham away game in the Premier League.
Card History:
Games: 19 Yellow Cards: 70 Red Cards: 3
Blackburn Rovers vs Fulham
K Friend A Halliday J Simpson A Marriner
My Verdict:
Kevin Friend is the newest name to be added to the Premier League list of referees and so far I haven't seen him put in a poor performance. He has already refereed some of the biggest teams in the country so this match shouldn't be a problem for him.
Fulham have the best disciplinary in the league and Blackburn, who used to be known for their tough tackling and rough play, have toned down over the last season or two, so I wouldn't be surprised to see a cardless game here.
This will only be Friend's eighth premier league game. He has refereed two Fulham games (2-1 defeat at Wolves and 2-2 draw at Man City), however this will be his first game involving Blackburn Rovers
Card History:
Games: 18 Yellow Cards: 69 Red Cards: 3
Bolton Wanderers vs Arsenal (4.00pm)
P Dowd M Scholes P Keane M Clattenburg
My Verdict
The final game of the weekend sees Phil Dowd, the surprise package of the season take charge of what could be the game of the weekend. Dowd has put in some strong performances this season and in my opinion is in the top 5 referees in the country.
I believe Dowd will be appointed to a cup final this season either the Carling Cup or the FA Cup, either one will be richly deserved.
Dowd can be strict at times, and I think he will need to show this personality at the Reebok because Bolton are a very physical side. I'm hoping for a close, competitive match, and hopefully Phil will do all he can to keep it 11 vs 11.
Dowd's last trip to The Reebok was only a few weeks ago, when he oversaw Bolton's 2-2draw with Hull.
His last Arsenal away game was their 2-0 win over West Ham at Upton Park back in October 2008.
Card History:
Games: 21 Yellow Cards: 71 Red Cards: 4
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