As a fan this is always one of those games you look out for when the fixtures are first announced. Emotions of both fans and players are always running high with the bragging rights up for grabs and you just hope that the matchday ref doesn’t get caught up in the occasion, to my recollection I can’t recall that ever happening, but there is always a first time, so the heavy responsibility this time falls on the shoulders of Anthony Backhouse from Cumbria.
Mr Backhouse up until last weekend has been the man in the middle on 20 occasions, and in that time, he has booked 68 players, but the rest of his copybook is blank, 0 double yellow offences, 0 red cards, and 0 penalties.
The last time Mr Backhouse officiated one of our games was back in March 2021, when we took a 3-0 beating away from home against bottom placed club Wigan Athletic. Mr Backhouse has only reffed two Dons games in his career, and we lost the other one as well, 1-0 away to Bristol Rovers…third time lucky anyone?
Matthew Smith and Michael Webb will be assisting on the flags, and Paul Howard is the 4th Official.
