Lee Mason from Lancashire will take charge of what could prove to be a momentous clash with Cardiff City this weekend.
The experienced official has been a referee since 2002 before being promoted to the select list where he has resided since 2007.
Mason has presided over Rangers seven times previously, culminating in a mixed bag of results – these are outlined below.
The official has dished out 111 yellow cards and five reds in 28 games – this gives him an average of 4.14 cards per game – one of the highest this season.
He will be assisted by Billy Smallwood (Cheshire) and Paul Thompson (Derbyshire), with the fourth official Dave Phillips (Sussex).
Smallwood ran the line in fixtures against Millwall (H), Burnley (A), and the reverse fixture against Cardiff City, while Phillips refereed the home victory over Preston North End.
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Refereeing Rangers |
Mr Mason first met Rangers in August 2003 when QPR were pushing for promotion from Division One. Duane Darby’s opener put the visitors on the back foot before two Goal of the Season candidates from Gareth Ainsworth hauled QPR in front.
Paul Furlong appeared to have put the game beyond doubt, before former Manchester City wide-man Paul Hall cut the deficit and Onandi Lowe sensationally drew level in the dying stages for Rushden & Diamonds.
Fast forward to 2004 and the Championship, Rangers travelled to Nottingham Forest to face under-fire manager Joe Kinnear. An early Andy Reid goal calmed the nerves before Georges Santos put QPR level seconds after the break.
Jack Lester would have the last laugh, showing exemplarary predatory instinct to nod home the winner for the Championship playoff hopefuls.
In 2006/07, Mr Mason took charge of two QPR fixtures. Initially a 3-1 home reverse by Ipswich Town – a Kevin Gallen opener cancelled out by Simon Walton (pen), Jason de Vos and Dean Bowditch. While later on in the campaign QPR displayed their great battling credentials.
Premier League-bound West Bromwich Albion went two goals to the good at the Hawthornes courtesy of Nathan Ellington and Diomansy Kamara, before Damion Stewart and the aforementioned Gallen hauled QPR level.
It seemed a kick in the teeth therefore when Kamara doubled his tally to take Albion in front once more, only for Marc Nygaard to make himself the hero of the hour with a towering header beyond Pascal Zuberbuhler.
Mr Mason oversaw John Gregory’s winless QPR take on Leicester City and despite going a goal down to an Iain Hume penalty, Mikele Leigertwood netted his first Rangers goal following his £900k move from Sheffield United to level matters.
Most recently the official oversaw Rangers live on Sky away at Bristol City. Jon Stead ostensibly opened the scoring for the Robins before Patrick Agyemang levelled with little over five minutes remaining for the unbeaten visitors.
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Mr Mason & Queens Park Rangers |
Rushden & Diamonds 3-3 QPR – 25/08/2003
Goals: Duane Darby 16, Paul Hall 82, Onandi Lowe 90; Gareth Ainsworth 37, 45, Paul Furlong 53
Yellow Cards: Billy Turley, Paul Underwood, Gary Mills, Stuart Gray; Martin Rowlands, Dan Shittu, Gino Padula, Marcus Bean
Nottingham Forest 2-1 QPR – 05/12/2004
Goals: Andy Reid 15, Jack Lester 58; Georges Santos 49
Yellow Cards: Andy Reid, Alan Rogers; Georges Santos
QPR 1-3 Ipswich Town – 25/08/2006
Goals: Kevin Gallen 58; Simon Walton 62pen, Jason de Vos 68, Dean Bowditch 86.
Yellow Cards: NONE
West Bromwich Albion 3-3 QPR – 31/10/2006
Goals: Nathan Ellington 8, Diomansy Kamara 40, 54; Damion Stewart 45, Kevin Gallen 48; Marc Nygaard 83
Yellow Cards: Marcus Bignot, Steve Lomas, Jimmy Smith
Leicester City 1-1 QPR – 15/09/2007
Goals: Iain Hume 63; Mikele Leigertwood 82pen
Yellow Cards: Gareth McAuley; Mikele Leigertwood
Aston Villa 0-1 QPR – 24/09/2008
Goals: Damion Stewart 58
Yellow Cards: Craig Gardner, Carlos Cuellar; Damien Delaney
Bristol City 1-1 QPR – 22/10/2010
Goals: Jon Stead 16, Patrick Agyemang 84
Yellow Cards: Marvin Elliott, Danny Rose; Kaspars Gorkss, Kyle Walker, Shaun Derry, Alejandro Faurlín.
