Ref Taylor-Made For Derby Game

Anthony Taylor of Greater Manchester is the man to take charge as Rangers host Derby County in the Coca Cola Championship.

Relatively new on the refereeing circuit, Mr. Taylor has been billed as a bit of a card merchant. In his three season in officiating 69 fixtures handing out a staggering 191 yellow cards and 15 reds; not difficult to see then why he has progressed so quickly.

Taylor started out in 2006, where he was mainly officiating in League Two affairs, his first a 0-0 draw between Wrexham and Peterbrough, a fixture that would want to get you moving up the ladder fairly swiftly!

He was granted his first Championship game later that year as he took charge of Luton Town`s 3-1 win over Coventry City, with a draw between Stoke City and Southend United his only other Championship fixture that season.

Last season he featured a little heavier in the second tier, and in his first Championship affair booked ten players as Martin Allen`s Leicester City beat Watford 4-1. The fun didn`t stop there as he sent off Ian Ashbee and Lloyd Sam as Hull City went down at home to Charlton Athletic.

His first Rangers fixture came during the reign of Luigi De Canio, as the R`s courtesy of Patrick Agyemang, took the game by storm to win 3-2. This was aided by the sending off of Youssef Safri with ten minutes or so remaining after a lunging tackle – the referee was correct to give the Saints his marching orders.

That was one of 10 red cards he dished out that season, and will certainly be in line for more Championship games this season. Having already refereed Cardiff/Norwich and Charlton/Wolves, handing penalties to both Cardiff and Wolves in those fixtures.

Mr. A Taylor & Queens Park Rangers

Southampton 2-3 QPR – 9th February 2008.
Goals: Darren Powell 1, Stern John 90; Martin Rowlands 38, Patrick Agyemang 45, 60.
Booked: Darren Powell, Jhon Viafara; Damien Delaney.
Sent Off: Youssef Safri.

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