Sheffield United might need to walk disciplinary tightrope against Norwich City as referee appointment confirmed
Sheffield United face Norwich City in a match which could play a key role in this season’s play-off race
Following last weekend’s disappointing draw with West Brom, there’s little room for error for Sheffield United if they want to finish inside the top six this season.
In fact, it could be argued that their play-off hopes are hanging by a thread, with the Blades trailing the likes of Bristol City, Watford, Southampton, Derby County and Wrexham, with three of those sides also having a game in hand.
Next up is a renewed rivalry of sorts as Wilder leads his team into battle against Norwich City at Carrow Road.
Sheffield United are unbeaten in their last 10 league meetings with the Canaries, and have notably earned 11 points from an available 15 from their last five games on the road in Norfolk.
Ben Toner named referee for Norwich City vs Sheffield United
Toner made his Football League debut as an official in 2015 and stepped up to oversee a match in the Championship for the first time during the 2022/23 campaign.
He’s overseen 37 second-tier matches in his career so far, including 15 this season. In that time, he’s handed out 56 yellow cards, which is an average of 3.7 per game.
Toner also leads the way for red cards this season having sent four off four players this term.
The referee sent off Derby County’s Joe Ward and Birmingham City’s Christoph Klarer during a 1-1 draw on Boxing Day. He also dismissed Preston’s Liam Lindsay during a draw with Coventry City, and Leicester’s Aaron Ramsey during their 2-2 draw with Oxford United.
Toner has overseen one Sheffield United match this season. That came on 20 September when the Blades suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Charlton Athletic in Chris Wilder’s first stint back in the dugout after coming back to manage the club for the third time.