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The Men in Black – Stoke City v QPR

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Mike Jones will take charge of this weekend’s fixture as Rangers travel to Stoke City.

Jones was appointed to the National List of referees in 1997, before the 43-year-old eventually made the leap in 2008 to the Select List, and he has resided in the Premier League ever since.

This weekend he will be assisted by Darren England and Darren Cann – the latter running the line against Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers. The fourth official was the referee for Rangers home draw with Blackburn Rovers – Mark Clattenberg.

Thus far this season Jones has dished out 42 yellow cards and three reds in nine games – thus giving him an average of 5.00 cards per game.

Refereeing Rangers


In 2001 he took charge of his first QPR game as the R’s lost out to promotion hopefuls Bolton Wanderers by the odd goal in three as Bob Taylor`s brace gave the Trotters the win despite Keith Rowland`s penalty to halve the arrears.

Despite refereeing mainly in divisions one and two Mr Jones was rarely assigned a Rangers fixture and there was a wait until 2003 for his next Rangers game, a disappointing goalless draw at home to Wycombe Wanderers.

After Messrs Prosser and Styles had waded in with their ill-advised cards to spoil several meetings, Mr Jones kept a lid on an ordinarily heated as both sides drew a blank in W12. He also dished out a booking for now QPR youth coach Keith Ryan.

He took charge as QPR faced Southampton under the guidance of Ian Holloway. And QPR beat the Saints by a goal to nil. Richard Langley`s penalty kick enough to separate the sides in W12 as Theo Walcott left the field in a QPR shirt.

John Gregory’s Rangers travelled to Luton Town in an FA Cup replay in 2007 and in light of the R’s cup record a familiar result was on display. Zesh Rehman sliced a harmless ball into the bottom corner to hand the Hatters a win. Stefan Bailey was sent off and inadvertently struck Mr Jones in disbelief before he left the field – no further action was taken.

Later that season Rangers were fighting for their lives as they faced an unwanted trip to high-flying Sunderland. Mr Jones did hand the R’s a penalty as Martin Rowlands levelled things up after Dean Whitehead`s opener. However Grant Leadbitter`s strike from distance secured the points for the eventual champions.

After a year’s break he came back to take charge of Rangers’ game once again against Southampton, this time at St Mary’s.

A drab lifeless affair saw the game end goalless, with debutante Adel Taarabt the only ray of light coming from the bench on an otherwise disappointing day.

Jones took charge of a West London derby between Queens Park Rangers and Chelsea, with the Blues coming out narrowly on top. Salomon Kalou scored the crucial goal to separate the sides despite a useful showing from Jim Magilton’s QPR.

Later that campaign he presided over QPR’s home draw with Coventry City. After coming back from a Leon Best goal, courtesy of Jay Simpson and Ákos Buzsáky, Rangers fell foul of a Richard Wood headed goal, before Stephen Wright picked up his customary red card.

Jones then dished out seven yellows as QPR and Burnley played out a goalless draw at Turf Moor, Rangers went on to be promoted, while the newly relegated Burnley were condemned to another season in the Championship.

Mr Jones & Queens Park Rangers


Bolton Wanderers 2-1 QPR – 13-03-99
Goals: Bob Taylor 30, 58; Keith Rowland 69pen.
Yellow Cards: Chris Plummer.

QPR 0-0 Wycombe Wanderers – 13-09-03
Goals: NONE
Yellow Cards: Paul Furlong, Gino Padula; Roger Johnson, Keith Ryan.

QPR 1-0 Southampton – 14-01-06
Goals: Richard Langley 21pen.
Yellow Cards: Darren Powell.

Luton Town 1-0 QPR – 23-01-07
Goals: Zesh Rehman 80og.
Yellow Cards: Chris Coyne, Dean Morgan.
Red Cards: Stefan Bailey

Sunderland 2-1 QPR – 14-04-07
Goals: Dean Whitehead 7, Grant Leadbitter 76; Martin Rowlands 23pen.
Yellow Cards: Danny Simpson; Adam Bolder, Danny Cullip, Paul Furlong.

Southampton 0-0 QPR – 14-03-2009
Goals: NONE
Yellow Cards: Lloyd James, David McGoldrick; Kaspars Gorkss, Damion Stewart.

Chelsea 1-0 QPR – 23-09-2009
Goals: Salomon Kalou 52
Yellow Cards: NONE

QPR 2-2 Coventry City – 28/11/2009
Goals: Jay Simpson 35, Ákos Buzsáky 69; Leon Best 16, Richard Wood 81
Yellow: Keiren Westwood, Stephen Wright, Patrick van Aanholt, Richard Wood, Jack Cork
Red: Stephen Wright

Burnley 0-0 QPR – 15/01/2011
Goals: NONE
Yellow: Graham Alexander, Danny Fox, Michael Duff, Jack Cork, Steven Thompson; Bradley Orr, Alejandro Faurlín.




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