The referee for Saturday’s match against Crewe at the SoL will be Michael Ryan. Mr Ryan has already handed out 109 yellow cards this season from 32 games (avg 3.4 per game), and 11 reds. The most he’s ever given in one game this season is eight, when second division Oldham lost to Notts County last November. Mr Ryan was the man in the middle when we lost 2-0 to Forest on that sweltering August day, the first day of this season in February, when he booked Phil Babb, Jocky Bjorklund and Paul Thirlwell. He also officiated at our 1-1 home draw against Stoke City in March when he booked Babb, Stephen Byfield and Stephen Wright.
The referee for next Tuesday evening’s match against Norwich at the SoL will be David Pugh. Mr Pugh has handed out 67 yellow cards from 21 games (avg 3.2 per game) this season but only four reds. The most he’s ever given in one game this season is six, which he’s done twice this. The Norwich game will be Mr Pugh’s first involving Sunderland this season. Interestingly, the assistant refs for this game are from Tyne & Wear and Cleveland.
