Card-happy referee confirmed for Sheffield United vs Lincoln City Championship fixture
The EFL have confirmed their match official appointments ahead of the Championship restart this weekend.
Experienced Championship referee Josh Smith will take charge of Sheffield United’s clash with Lincoln City at Bramall Lane on Saturday afternoon, the EFL has announced.
Following a three-week international break, United will resume their Championship campaign with the ambition of getting back to winning ways after suffering three straight defeats across all competitions prior to the pause.
Chris Wilder’s side have experienced an indifferent start to the campaign, winning two, drawing three and losing three of their first eight matches, meaning they are currently 18th in the table, four points shy of the play-offs and four points above the relegation zone.
Lincoln, meanwhile, are currently 12th, six places and two points ahead of the Blades. They have won three, drawn two and lost three of their first eight matches.
Preparing to go head-to-head in the league for the first time since 1961, it has been confirmed that Championship regular Smith will take charge of the contest. The Peterborough-born whistle-blower has taken charge of more than 130 Championship matches during his officiating career, including four games so far this season.
Smith, who was in charge of the Blades’ 3-1 defeat to Norwich City at Bramall Lane last month, has handed out 20 yellow cards across those four matches, with five of them being dished out in the aforementioned clash in S2 a few weeks ago. Tim Robinson (24) and Elliot Bell (22) are the only referees to have brandished more yellow cards in the division so far this season.
Alongside taking charge of four Championship matches so far this term, Smith has also taken charge of one Premier League fixture and Lincoln’s 2-1 win over Derby County in the first round of the Carabao Cup, meaning he has handed out a total of 28 yellow cards in just six games.
Smith has taken charge of 12 United fixtures during his officiating career, including last season’s 2-1 win over neighbours Sheffield Wednesday at Bramall Lane, in which he sent off Kalvin Phillips for a reckless lunge on former Owls midfielder Svante Ingelsson.
That is the only red card he has shown to a United player over the course of the 12 Blades fixtures he has officiated during his career.