Leeds United’s Premier League fate will be decided as this weekend as they make the trip to Brentford on the final day of the season. The Whites currently sit in the bottom three on goal difference following Burnley’s draw at Aston Villa on Thursday.
Mike Jackson’s side know that if they are able to match Leeds’ result this weekend, they will secure their Premier League status. Leeds, though, will be hoping Newcastle United are able to do them a favour, while also getting some kind of result at the Brentford Community Stadium.
The refereeing appointments have been made ahead of the weekend’s matches, with Paul Tierney the man in middle for Leeds, and Craig Pawson in charge at Turf Moor. So with that in mind, here is a look at their respective records this season.
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Paul Tierney
Tierney is among the most prolific yellow carders of the Premier League referees, having handed out 100 in his 26 matches this season. Only one man has managed to show more in the division this season, which incidentally, is Pawson.
The 41-year-old has officiated five Leeds matches so far this season, with the Whites having won just once and losing the remaining four. Though that record is slightly blotted in the fact Tierney refereed both home and away matches against the two Manchester clubs.
Tierney’s performance in Leeds’ 4-0 defeat to Manchester City last month was widely criticised, as he seemingly lost control of the game with his hesitancy in handing out yellow cards. That was the complete opposite in the clash with Manchester United in February, as he dished out nine.
In recent weeks, he has also not been afraid in awarding penalty kicks – as in five of the last six matches he has refereed, Tierney has pointed to the spot. Leeds will need to ensure their discipline remains much cleaner than in recent weeks, with both Daniel James and Luke Ayling having seen straight red cards.
Craig Pawson
As aforementioned, Sheffield-born referee Pawson is the referee who has handed out the most yellow cards this season, with 107. Despite that, he has only given two players his marching orders in his 25 matches in the middle – one of which was for Leeds’ Pascal Struijk for his challenge on Harvey Elliot back in September.
This weekend’s match between Burnley and Aston Villa, though, will be just the fourth time he has refereed the Clarets all season. Their record with him in the middle reads one win, one draw and one defeat.
It will also be the fourth time he has refereed Newcastle this term, too, with his record for their matches identical to his one with Burnley. Unlike Tierney, though, Pawson has been pretty reluctant at awarding penalties this season, pointing to the spot on just three occasions.
Two of those were in the same match, too, in the recent clash between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates.
