Championship referee & match officials appointments for matchday 37

Matchday 37 of the Championship gets underway this weekend, and the EFL has revealed the referees who will be officiating each game.

With that in mind, Football FanCast has created a handy list of who will be in charge of each game this weekend, as well as their respective statistics for the season thus far and their records against the clubs involved, per Transfermarkt.

Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds

Sam Allison

The weekend kicks off on Friday night with a Yorkshire derby as in-form relegation battlers Sheffield Wednesday host promotion-chasing Leeds United. In charge will be Sam Allison, who officiated the Severnside derby earlier this month.

This game will be Wednesday’s first meeting with Allison this season, while Leeds have faced him twice during the campaign, with Allison overseeing their victories over Swansea and Peterborough United in the FA Cup.

In fact, the Owls have only come across this particular referee once, as they overcame Wycombe Wanderers during last season’s promotion campaign.

Cardiff v Ipswich

Oliver Langford

Ipswich Town continue their promotion charge as they travel to Cardiff City in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.

Oliver Langford is the man in the middle, with Cardiff looking for a first win alongside this referee in four attempts this season. Despite this, the Bluebirds have a better record under Langford than their opponents, with Ipswich only winning 5 in 15 – the last meeting coming in February 2022.

Blackburn v Plymouth

Andrew Kitchen

Two teams still looking over their shoulders meet at Ewood Park as Blackburn Rovers take on Plymouth Argyle.

Keeping things in check will be Andrew Kitchen. Both clubs have 100% records with him this term, with Rovers beating Stoke as well as Cardiff in the cup under Kitchen’s watch, while Plymouth last met him in September when they comfortably saw off Norwich 6-2.

Averaging just three yellows per game in the Championship, we may expect a free-flowing affair as both sides seek to steer clear of relegation bother.

Hull v Leicester

Sam Barrott

Hull City welcome leaders Leicester City in a game that could reshape the fight for promotion.

Sam Barrott has been selected to oversee proceedings, with the referee enjoying plenty of exposure following his Premier League debut earlier this season.

However, the omens aren’t great as far as the Foxes are concerned, with Barrott’s two games involving Leicester this term both ending as 1-1 away draws. That said, Hull are yet to win alongside Barrott themselves, having last met him in a loss to Bristol City in February 2023.

Millwall v Birmingham

Darren Bond

Another clash involving two sides in the bottom region takes place in south London, with a resurgent Millwall taking on Birmingham City.

In charge is Darren Bond, who has awarded a penalty in four of his nine Championship clashes to date this term. One of those came at the expense of Millwall back in December when they were denied victory late on against Huddersfield.

Meanwhile, Birmingham have won 11 of their 25 clashes under Bond (drawing and losing 7 apiece), so they may fancy their chances if these stats are anything to go by.

Norwich v Rotherham

Charles Breakspear

Norwich City will look to get back to winning ways following their midweek defeat when they face doomed Rotherham United at Carrow Road.

The match will be officiated Charles Breakspear, who is taking charge of his first Championship game of the season. Breakspear is nevertheless an experienced referee, having spent most of the campaign in Leagues One and Two.

He last met both of these clubs in the 2021/22 season, when Rotherham picked up two victories in the third tier, while Norwich hit Bournemouth for six in the EFL Cup under Breakspear’s watch.

Preston v Stoke

Josh Smith

Preston North End continue their push for the play-offs by welcoming Stoke City to Deepdale on Saturday afternoon, where proceedings will be overseen by Josh Smith.

Deepdale has been a common destination for Smith this season, with this weekend’s clash the fifth of the campaign for this referee. Preston have won two from four under his watch this term, including the Lilywhites’ 2-1 Boxing Day win over Leeds.

Stoke, meanwhile, have not met Smith since August’s defeat to Ipswich, though the Potters do have a better overall win rate when Smith is involved compared to their opponents, having won three of their six meetings to date.

QPR v Middlesbrough

Leigh Doughty

Queens Park Rangers are looking to continue their promising run of form against mid-table Middlesbrough at Loftus Road this weekend.

The man with the whistle is Leigh Doughty, who has previous in west London this term. Doughty was in charge when the R’s were beaten in October by Leicester, in a game that saw Andre Dozzell sent off.

Opponents Boro have won their last four meetings under Doughty, while QPR have just one win in five, which came in last April’s win over Stoke.

Southampton v Sunderland

Stuart Attwell

Stuart Attwell takes charge of his second Championship fixture of the season this weekend as Southampton take on Sunderland at St Mary’s.

Attwell’s previous second-tier outing came in Norwich’s win over Watford in February, where he awarded the hosts a penalty. Hoping for a similar story this time out, the Saints have the more favourable record under Attwell, winning 7 out of 20 past meetings.

Sunderland, meanwhile, have only earned 2 victories from 11 attempts, with their most recent clash involving Attwell coming in their last Premier League campaign in 2016/17.

Watford v Coventry

Robert Madley

Watford host Coventry City at Vicarage Road, with the visitors looking to bolster their play-off bid following their thumping victory in midweek.

Robert Madley is in charge of this one, with the referee overseeing a draw apiece for each of these clubs. Madley controversially sent off Norwich’s Borja Sainz in their midweek defeat to Middlesbrough.

It’s Watford who edge the stats in terms of the previous meetings with Madley – the Hornets have 5 wins from 15 games, while the Sky Blues can only claim 2 wins in 9.

Huddersfield v West Brom

David Webb

Huddersfield Town welcome play-off hopefuls West Bromwich Albion to West Yorkshire on Sunday, where David Webb is in charge of the action.

Webb has officiated the Terriers three times this season, with Andre Breitenreiter’s side yet to be on the winning side. The Baggies have only met Webb once, in their 1-0 win over Birmingham.

Webb’s last outing was the entertaining clash between Ipswich and Bristol City, which had penalty drama and goals galore.

Bristol City v Swansea

Matthew Donohue

Bristol City take on their second Welsh opposition in a week as Swansea City visit Ashton Gate on Sunday afternoon. In charge will be experienced Championship official Matthew Donohue.

The pair have had contrasting fortunes under him this term, with the Swans yet to win when Donohue is involved, while the Robins have won both their ties – each one being at home, too.

Birmingham v Middlesbrough

Andy Davies

There is one midweek clash on Tuesday evening, with Birmingham City facing Middlesbrough in a rescheduled fixture following the Blues’ FA Cup involvement.

Andy Davies is in control of things at St Andrew’s. Previously this season, Davies has overseen two Birmingham clashes, with the Blues failing to win against Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday. Boro, meanwhile, were successful in their only clash involving Davies this term, which came at Millwall back in January.