Referee described as 'top-class' by Chris Wilder to take charge of Sheffield United vs Derby fixture
The EFL has confirmed who will take charge of Sheffield United’s tussle with Derby County at Bramall Lane this weekend.
Experienced Championship referee Stephen Martin will take charge of Sheffield United’s Championship clash with Derby County at Bramall Lane on Saturday, the EFL has announced.
Refereeing decisions and officiating standards have been major talking points for Blades manager Chris Wilder recently following the decision that saw Hamza Choudhury controversially sent off by Oliver Langford during last Wednesday night’s 3-2 defeat to Portsmouth.
Choudhury was shown a second yellow card shortly before half-time after Portsmouth winger Ryan Kavuma-McQueen knocked the ball past the Blades utility player and then ran into him. Wilder strongly criticised the decision, questioning where Choudhury was supposed to position himself to avoid contact with the Chelsea loanee.
In a passionate rant, Wilder questioned the standard of officiating in the Championship, asking why up-and-coming referees were not being given the opportunity to take charge of second-tier matches. Choudhury was the third United player to have been sent off by Langford in the last two Blades fixtures he had officiated.
United have been assigned Martin for this weekend’s fixture, an official who earned Wilder’s praise last season. The experienced Championship referee was praised by Wilder last September after the Blades manager was shown a red card by Adam Herczeg for kicking a football into the crowd during his side’s 2-1 defeat to Southampton.
Wilder was left “disappointed” by the decision, suggesting that a more experienced referee should have taken charge of the clash with the Saints. He specifically named Martin as someone who would have been an ideal candidate.
"There's Stephen Martin, who is a top-class Championship referee being a fourth official at one of the games [Bristol City v Ipswich Town],” said Wilder. “Why aren't we being given an experienced referee for this fixture? This is the thing I don't get - the appointment system.”
Martin, who took charge of United’s 3-0 win over Mansfield Town in the first round of the Carabao Cup earlier this season, has regularly officiated in the Championship since the 2013/14 season, making him one of the most experienced referees in the division.
So far this season, Staffordshire-born Martin has taken charge of six matches, including four in the Championship. He has issued 25 yellow cards and one red card.
In his most recent outing, Martin issued four yellow cards during Southampton’s 1-0 win over Norwich City at Carrow Road last Wednesday evening.
Martin has officiated 15 of United’s fixtures during his professional refereeing career, with the Blades winning ten, drawing two and losing three.