The Men in Black – QPR v Derby County

David Coote from West Yorkshire presides over tomorrow’s fixture – as Queens Park Rangers host Derby County.

Competition: Football League Championship
Date: Wednesday 14th December, 2016

Assistant: Nigel Lugg (Surrey)
Assistant: Daniel Robathan (Bedfordshire)
Fourth Official: James Linington (Isle of Wight)

Saturday was a rare game where the referee was not a talking point – Jeremy Simpson was merely a side act to the main event that was Rangers’ massively underwhelming showing against bottom side Rotherham United.

The official has taken charge of Rangers once previously – in a highly disappointing home defeat to Reading at Loftus Road. He even managed to help QPR out by sending off former defender Kaspars Gorkss but they laboured to a 3-1 home reverse.

Thus far this season he has dished out 71 yellow cards in 19 matches – giving him an average of 3.74 cards per game. He has also handed out two reds this term – Reading’s Garath McCleary and Birmingham City’s David Davis.

Against Derby County he will be assisted by Nigel Lugg (Surrey) and Daniel Robathan (Bedfordshire) with James Linington (Isle of Wight) the fourth official.

Robathan ran the line in Ian Holloway’s returning victory over Norwich City while fourth official Linington officiated Rangers win over Cardiff City earlier this campaign.