Latics travel to Ewood Park on Saturday to face Blackburn Rovers in what is a massive game down at the foot of the Championship table, the man charged with making sure that both teams adhere to the rules of the game is Carnforth’s finest, Jeremy Simpson.
A former Premier League and FIFA International assistant referee, Simpson is part of the new ‘Select Group 2’ of professional ref’s after rising rapidly through the refereeing ranks, he was at Conference level in 2012 and only found his feet in the Championship last campaign when of the 35 games he took charge of over the season just 15 were in the Championship.
Jezza has taken charge of three Latics’ games so far this season, our home game with Birmingham back on a sunny Tuesday evening in mid August, we drew that 1-1 and he booked three Latics players, Adam Bogdan, Craig Morgan and Max Power, our goalless draw away at Barnsley in November, just two bookings that day both for the ‘tics, Craig Morgan and Shaun MacDonald, then the 0-1 home defeat to Huddersfield on the 2nd January, Michael Jacobs receiving a yellow card that day.
This will be only the fourth Latics game that the former PE teacher has been in charge of, he’s been in charge of Blackburn just twice previously, their 2-3 home defeat by Reading in December this campaign and back in the 2013/14 season he was at Ewood Park in January 2014 for Rovers 1-0 over Doncaster, all those games were in the Championship.
Of Simpson’s 29 games so far this season 20 have been in the Championship, 5 in League 1, one in League 2 and one apiece in the FA cup, EFL cup and the Football League Trophy.
Jeremy Simpson Card Watch 2016/17
Games – 29
Yellows – 131
Reds – 3
Blackburn Rovers v Wigan Athletic
Referee – JEREMY SIMPSON
Assistants Shaun Hudson and Nick Hopton
Fourth Official – Andy Haines
Check out the latest PWU Podcast – The Boss
‘Boss Gate’, a little bit of intrigue to start the week off, the fans forum cancelled due to Warren Joyce needing some medical treatment, hmm the rumour mill has been in full swing.
Shocking performance against Forest at the weekend, definitely an opportunity lost, poor tactics left us all a little stunned and angry.
Blackburn preview, £27 a ticket and a goalless draw forecast, what a way to spend Saturday afternoon!
We have Birmingham on Tuesday, they’re in a poor run of form, can we go to St Andrews and get something?
The podcast can be listened to by clicking the embedded player below or downloaded to listen at you leisure by visiting www.buzzsprout.com
We are also available on itunes and we have an app for your tablet or mobile, just follow the instructions here
