Russell Refs Boro Clash

Mick Russell is the man in the middle as QPR face promotion rivals weekend Middlesbrough

Russell was promoted to the National Referees List in 2004 and predominantly took charge of the lower league fixtures as is customary for fledgling officials.

He has had a smattering of Championship games in his brief refereeing career, but has only met Rangers once - albeit delayed as he called off the original fixture.

Mr Russell rather confusingly cites Grant Hegley as the best referee in the game at present - which tells its own story on how he plans to officiate tomorrow's clash.

He will be assisted by Phillip Knight (Kent) and Harry Lennard (East Sussex) with Ian Crouch (London) the fourth official.

Mr Russell has taken charge of six games, dishing out eight yellow cards and one red - this gives him a card average of 1.6 cards per game.

Refereeing Rangers

Mr Russell has taken charge of QPR twice once before, firstly as Neil Warnock's Crystal Palace came to town for the second time, after he called off the original fixture owing to a water-logged pitch.

Ákos Buzsáky's 19th minute penalty put Rangers in front but in typical Warnock fashion his side battled back and equalised with a penalty of their own shortly after the hour mark.

Later last season Derby County visited Loftus Road with Lee Cook striking at a wet and windy Loftus Road, only to be cancelled out by a second half effort from Shaun Barker.

Mr Russell & Queens Park Rangers

QPR 1-1 Crystal Palace - 03-11-2009
Goals: Ákos Buzsáky 19pen; Darren Ambrose 62pen
Yellow Cards: Wayne Routledge; Claude Davis.

QPR 1-1 Derby County - 23-03-10
Goals: Lee Cook 45; Shaun Barker 67
Yellow Cards: Alejandro Faurlín; Dean Leacock




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