Leeds United are in action again on Saturday lunchtime when they go to Ashton Gate to take on Bristol City, and the referee appointed has a bit of history with Daniel Farke’s side.
Leeds go into the match having gone unbeaten in their last six games, winning their last two. Wins over Sheffield United and Watford has seen Leeds go third, level on points with second-placed Burnley.
The Whites will be without Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev and Max Wober once again while winger Largie Ramazani is also likely to be missing after picking up an injury in the first 15 minutes against Watford.
Junior Firpo will also be missing, having picked up his fifth yellow card on Tuesday night. It means that Daniel Farke will be forced to make at least two changes to his starting line-up come Saturday.
James Linington appointed as referee for Leeds United clash
Linington has been picked to referee Saturday lunchtime’s clash at Ashton Gate. The last time he reffed The Whites during the season in which Leeds were promoted under Marcelo Bielsa during 2019-20.
Argentine boss Bielsa watched on as Leeds suffered a 2-1 defeat, which saw Gaetano Berardi receive a red card. A red which was later rescinded, but it was only one of nine losses suffered by Leeds that season.
The previous game Linington reffed was a 2-0 home defeat to Cardiff City in 2016-17 during manager Garry Monk’s era, which saw captain Liam Bridcutt receive two yellow cards as the Welsh side won.
The other two times Linington reffed Leeds saw two more reds
He reffed a 1-1 draw between Leeds and Nottingham Forest in December 2015, which saw Sam Byram score shortly before moving onto West Ham that January. The other, a heavy 4-1 loss to Watford in 2014.
One of Dave Hockaday’s matches in charge during the early stages of Massimo Cellino’s career, in a game where Linington sent two Leeds players off in the form of Byram and Italian defender Giuseppe Bellusci.
So, four red cards in four games Linington has reffed in the last decade. No wins, three losses and a draw. It doesn’t appear great for Leeds who are hoping for a third win in a row in the race for promotion.
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