The referee has been picked for Leeds United’s second leg against Norwich City on Thursday night at Elland Road and The Whites have a poor record with him in the middle.
Leeds go into Thursday night’s clash at Elland Road having secured a 0-0 draw away from home. A draw that seems like a solid result against a Norwich side that could not take advantage of playing at home.
Now, the two teams meet in Yorkshire and Daniel Farke’s men will be favourites to get the job done when Leeds face the German manager’s old side, while Southampton play host to West Brom on Friday night.
Leeds are expected to be without Pascal Struijk but could welcome back Patrick Bamford for the clash, while Dan James and Connor Roberts are fit with the former playing for the last few minutes at Norwich.
Norwich manager David Wagner has confirmed that there is only a small chance Ashley Barnes returns in time for The Canaries, but is confident that USA star Josh Sargent should overcome an ankle issue.
Australian referee Jarred Gillett has been appointed as the man in the middle for the clash, and here is how Leeds have fared when he has taken charge of the Whites over the years:
Leeds have a poor record with Jarred Gillett refereeing
The EFL confirmed that it will be 37-year-old Gillett refereeing on Thursday night at Elland Road, who entered British football during Marcelo Bielsa’s first season at Leeds after impressing in the A-League.
Gillett’s first Leeds game was under Bielsa, a 1-0 win over Barnsley in July 2020 that saw the Whites go to within just a point of winning the Championship and securing promotion to the Premier League.
But in the next two games, Leeds have failed to win. Next was the 3-3 draw against Aston Villa, a few months before Bielsa’s sacking in which Wales star James scored a brace as a makeshift striker at Villa.
His last game refereeing Leeds came in The FA Cup under Jesse Marsch, a dismal 2-2 away draw at Cardiff City in which Sonny Perkins scored in injury time. It is only his third Championship match this term.
What is Norwich City’s record like with Gillett refereeing?
Gillett has refereed seven Norwich matches since moving over to England and The Canaries have a wonderful record with the Australian in the middle, winning six of those seven games over the years.
His first, a 3-1 away win over Bristol City in 2020 before wins over Sheffield Wednesday, Coventry and Huddersfield Town that season. The latter, a huge 7-0 victory in favour of Norwich in April 2021.
Farke was in charge for those four games and then in the Premier League, Gillett oversaw a 2-1 away win over Brentford which was the German’s last as Norwich boss, sacked the same day in November 2021.
He hasn’t refereed Norwich this season but did control a 3-0 loss to Spurs after Farke’s sacking and then last term, a 3-1 win over Birmingham. Norwich certainly have a better record under Gillett than Leeds do.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
