Deadman Ref's Wednesday Clash

Darren Deadman from Cheshunt will take charge of Rangers clash with Sheffield Wednesday on Easter Monday.



Photo courtesy of refworld.com

34-year-old Darren Deadman is predictably enough a Civil Servant in Peterborough. He joined the National List of assistant referees in 2000 and the referees` list in 2005.

His ambitions include refereeing a playoff final and progressing to the select list of officials - while he cites former referee Rob Harris as his biggest influence. Harris of course the referee infamous with allowing a player he sent off to be substituted for Tranmere Rovers - following his example he`ll be nailed on for the select list.

Darren spent two years refereeing Conference football before eventually progressing into the Football League in 2005 where he oversaw Boston United`s 2-2 draw with Stockport County. From then onwards he made his name as a card merchant dishing out 104 yellow cards and nine reds in 31 games.

In the following season he progressed by and large into League One football and his third game in the game Championship was John Gregory`s first as QPR boss.

With Rangers reeling from the departure of Gary Waddock and an appalling away League Cup loss to Port Vale, the former QPR midfielder, Gregory was drafted in to the manager`s hot seat. The R`s won the game 2-0 against visitors Hull City courtesy of goals from strike force Ray Jones and Dexter Blackstock.

Deadman was on fine form once again that season even by his standards handing out 136 yellows and 12 reds in only 31 games. The following season he saw first hand the transformation at Loftus Road as a rejuvenated QPR hosted Bristol City.

Rangers swept the Robins out of sight under Luigi De Canio, with Patrick Agyemang continuing his stunning goalscoring run and Akos Buzsaky making it 3-0 to the R`s. It is still hailed to the day as one of Rangers most memorable games of recent years.

He rounded off the season by refereeing a League Two playoff semi-final first leg as Wycombe were held at home by finalists Stockport County. He had evidently mellowed refereeing 32 games dishing out 101 yellow cards and five reds.

Rangers have already had Mr Deadman twice this season, the first of which came once again against Bristol City at Ashton Gate - and he came in for some harsh criticism from Vital QPR co-editor Sandydl, who said:

"I refuse to comment on the referee, whose performance today was, quite frankly, appalling and left many of us angry. There were even chants from the home fans of 'you don`t know what you`re doing'. Better I step back, like a lady, than tell you all what I think of Darren Deadman!"

This comment is attributed to Rangers clinging on to a 1-1 draw away at Bristol City, having Emmanuel Ledesma harshly sent off for two bookable offences five minutes after half time. The R`s defended valiantly to claim themselves a point.

Dexter Blackstock poked home from close range from a rebound, before Dele Adebola equalised for the Robins.

After the turn of the QPR travelled to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest and were a goal down when Matteo Alberti gave Lewis McGugan the chance to net from the penalty spot.

Alberti then turned the game on its head with two well taken goals before a Lee Camp clanger allowed Chris Cohen to bag the equaliser just after the hour mark. A bitter pill to swallow for Rangers fans seeing their keeper leave the field to mutual adulation with the home support.

So far this season Mr Deadman has refereed 33 games, handing out 103 yellow cards and seven reds taking his card average down from the last meeting of 3.72 to 3.33 cards per game.

Mr Deadman & Queens Park Rangers

QPR 2-0 Hull City - 23-09-06
Goals: Ray Jones 60, Dexter Blackstock 80.
Yellow Cards: Ray Jones, Paul Jones, Zesh Rehman; Sam Collins, David Livermore, Danny Mills.

QPR 3-0 Bristol City 02-02-08
Goals: Patrick Agyemang 18, 33, Akos Buzsaky 63.
Yellow Cards: Martin Rowlands, Rowan Vine; Dele Adebola, Liam Fontaine.

Bristol City 1-1 QPR 30-08-08
Goals: Dele Adebola 25; Dexter Blackstock 18.
Yellow Cards: Bradley Orr, Ivan Sproule; Dexter Blackstock, Lee Cook, Emmanuel Ledesma, Martin Rowlands.
Red Cards: Emmanuel Ledesma.

Nottingham Forest 2-2 QPR - 07-02-09
Goals: Lewis McGugan 45, Chris Cohen 67; Matteo Alberti 45, 48.
Yellow Cards: Gareth McCleary, Brendan Moloney, Wes Morgan, Adam Newbold.

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