Premier League make surprise Leeds United appointment not long after Elland Road controversy

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The sixth instalment of Leeds United’s fight against relegation sees Daniel Farke’s side return to Elland Road for the first time since the 0-0 draw against Newcastle on August 30.

Leeds have since faced Fulham and Wolves away from home after the September international break, in which Daniel Farke’s men have secured three points. It should have been four, but for an own goal.

But a crucial 3-1 win at Wolves has restored the feel-good factor, ahead of the return to Yorkshire. Leeds now have the chance to win some points ahead of the October break, with two successive home games.

Leeds host Bournemouth on Saturday at Elland Road, before hosting Tottenham a week later. Optimism is high, and now, Leeds have learnt which referee will be standing in the middle come Saturday afternoon.

• READ MORE: Leeds drop Harry Gray hint ahead of Saturday’s welcome of Bournemouth

Chris Kavanagh appointed ref weeks after Everton controversy

Chris Kavanagh will be in charge at Elland Road, a month after awarding Leeds a penalty for a handball by James Tarkowski. A decision deemed controversial, with Malk Halsey saying it shouldn’t have been given.

Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville agreed that it was a penalty, with Tarkowski seen leaning into a shot from Anton Stach. Ultimately, it hit the Everton defender’s arm and prevented Stach’s on-target shot.

Now, Kavanagh has been appointed as referee for Saturday’s game as per the Premier League website. It will be the referee’s 23rd game in charge of The Whites, while Aussie ref Jarred Gillett will be on VAR duty.

Chris Kavanagh’s record while in charge of Leeds games

As aforementioned, Kavanagh will take charge of his 23rd Leeds game. That will make Leeds the joint-fifth most-refereed club of his career. In that time, results have been mixed – winning nine, but losing nine.

Of those 22, 10 have come in the Premier League and 11 in the Championship – but only one second-tier game during Daniel Farke’s reign as Leeds boss, the 3-0 away win over Millwall during the 23-24 season.

Two red cards, sending off Luke Ayling against Arsenal in 2022 and Alex Mowatt against QPR in 2016. The win over Everton ended a five-game losing streak of Premier League matches with Kavanagh as ref.