Another questionable appointment by the EFL as our allocated referee is from Blackburn, so with the late finish he could be sampling a DoubleTree breakfast with his team of officials the next morning, saying that the appointment of Ben Toner does allow me to tell my favourite referees story again.
Mr Toner was allocated the fixture of Blackpool v Portsmouth and the match was the Seasiders’ first since their majority owners the Oyston family were found guilty of “unfair prejudice” in their running of the club and were ordered to pay businessman Valeri Belokon, a minority shareholder, £31million.
The match official’s name became the subject of a social media joke amongst fans, but the EFL says that it had nothing to do with its decision to replace him at Bloomfield Road with Premier League referee Jon Moss……no, of course it didn’t.
Mr Toner has overseen 29 games this season showing 83 yellow cards and not one of those has been converted into a double yellow card offence, but he has shown 3 straight reds and awarded 4 penalties.
Strangely the last time we saw him was away against AFC albeit on IFollow as it was behind closed doors owing to Covid, but it was our first trip “Back” to Plough Lane. For the record it was 2-0 to us, but I’m guessing you know that anyway, but can you recall who scored.
Two goals in two minutes did for AFC, Jerome danced his way into the box and squared for O’Riley to slide in among a crowd of defenders and touch the ball over the line, then substitute Sorinola doubled the lead when his deflected shot came off both posts and squirmed over the line.
Mr Toner will be assisted by Declan O’Shea and Stephen Brown on the flags with Tom Reeves as the 4th Official.……Full English all round please waiter.
