Championship referee & match officials appointments for matchday 33

Matchday 33 of the Championship gets underway on Friday 16th February, 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, per Transfermarkt.

Note: Officials for Leicester City v Middlesbrough and Norwich City v Cardiff City were still to be confirmed at the time of writing.

West Brom v Southampton

Sam Allison

Friday night sees two promotion rivals in West Brom and Southampton go head-to-head at The Hawthorns.

In charge of the game will be referee Sam Allison. Relatively inexperienced at this level, Allison is yet to take charge of either of these teams, according to Transfermarkt, though he has taken part in matches involving both clubs at youth level. Interestingly, Southampton U21s are unbeaten in eight clashes with Allison, while the Baggies’ youth side are winless in six.

Plymouth v Leeds

Matthew Donohue

The lunchtime kick-off between Plymouth Argyle and Leeds United will be overseen by Matthew Donohue. Only one official has been in the middle for more Championship games than the man from Greater Manchester this season.

While these two have seen plenty of each other in recent weeks following their cup tie double-header, this will be Donohue’s first trip to Home Park since the opening day, when the Pilgrims saw off Huddersfield Town 3-1.

He has also had two Leeds games this term, with the Whites successful in their most recent meeting, which came against Norwich little over a month ago. Both clubs have 50% win rates with Donohue in charge.

Birmingham v Sunderland

Stephen Martin

Birmingham host Sunderland as both clubs attempt to make something of somewhat turbulent campaigns.

In charge at St Andrew’s will be Stephen Martin. Unfortunately for the Black Cats, Martin has been an unlucky charm thus far this term. Indeed, the omens don’t make for great reading as far as the visitors are concerned, with Martin overseeing two 1-0 defeats for Michael Beale’s side, coming against Cardiff City in September and Bristol City just before Christmas.

The Blues, meanwhile, can look back on their 1-0 success at Cardiff as their last meeting with Martin. That said, their record with Martin as referee is pretty dire, with just 4 wins from 22.

It looks like something will have to give in the Midlands, as Sunderland can only boast a record of 3 wins in 13 themselves – though their most recent victory alongside Martin came against Tony Mowbray’s side.

Bristol City v QPR

Sam Barrott

Fresh from officiating at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last weekend, Sam Barrott will take the reins at Ashton Gate as Bristol City take on QPR.

Despite earning his stripes in the top flight, Barrott has mostly taken charge of games in the Championship, with this set to be his third such match involving the Robins this term.

Unfortunately, Bristol City have been on the wrong side of the result on the previous two occasions, losing to Birmingham and Preston by 2-0 scorelines. QPR can’t claim to have won while under Barrott’s control either, with their only ever meeting being a 1-1 stalemate against relegation rivals Rotherham.

Huddersfield v Hull

Rebecca Welch

Play-off chasers Hull City travel to Huddersfield Town with both clubs looking to build on midweek victories.

Rebecca Welch will be in charge of this clash, which will be her eighth at this level this term. More often seen in women’s football, Welch’s history with either side is minimal with her debut in the men’s second tier coming in January 2023, though she did take charge of the Tigers’ 4-1 win over Rotherham back in November.

Welch is averaging five yellows per game in the Championship, which is one of the higher rates in the division.

Millwall v Sheffield Wednesday

Geoff Eltringham

Two Championship strugglers meet at The Den, as 21st hosts 23rd in south London. Geoff Eltringham is charged with keeping things in check between Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday afternoon.

If the Lions are looking for an omen, they may be in luck with the choice of referee. In two games under Eltringham this term, they are yet to concede, gaining four points from a win over Rotherham back in September and an away draw at Stoke prior to Christmas.

On the other hand, Wednesday can point to the Owls notching 11 wins under the experienced official – only one team (Preston) can claim to have more victories with Eltringham in charge.

Preston v Blackburn

David Webb

No one has taken charge of more Championship games this term than David Webb – so who better to be appointed for a Lancashire derby this weekend?

Preston take on Blackburn at Deepdale looking to extend their three-match winning run, while the visitors aim to find their feet under new boss John Eustace.

Unfortunately for these two sides – they may be sick at the sight of Webb, as in four matches combined this term, neither side are yet to claim a victory.

The Lilywhites can at least boast a positive overall record under the official (15 wins from 26), while Rovers have lost half of all their meetings involving Webb, winning just 6 out of 22.

Rotherham v Watford

Andrew Kitchen

Two teams desperately out of form meet at the New York Stadium on Saturday when Rotherham United host Watford, with the hosts in relegation bother and the visitors’ play-off hopes fading with every game.

In charge of these two on Saturday will be Andrew Kitchen, who has had previous with these sides earlier in the campaign.

Kitchen took charge of what remains the Millers’ last victory – their 1-0 Boxing Day success over Middlesbrough. While Watford may point to a gruelling fixture schedule as to their own disappointing form, they certainly wouldn’t mind a favour or two as they seek to breathe new life into their season.

An intriguing stat ahead of this one is that Kitchen has given penalties in two of his last three games – including one for Watford’s Tom Dele-Bashiru, who tucked one home against Bristol City last month.

Stoke v Coventry

James Bell

Stoke City take on Coventry City this weekend looking to build on their midweek win, having put an end to a four-game losing streak. The visitors, however, come into this having lost just once in all competitions over the past two months.

James Bell is in charge of the clash, with the official’s last Championship game also coming at the bet365 Stadium, having officiated the Potters’ goalless draw with Ipswich Town on New Year’s Day. In fact, this will be a fourth trip to the Potteries for Bell, with the referee also overseeing Stoke’s win over Watford and defeat to Southampton earlier in the campaign.

As one of the newer officials on the circuit at this level, Coventry have only crossed paths with Bell once before – a 0-0 draw with Bristol City in October 2022.

Swansea v Ipswich

John Busby

Swansea will be looking to put the horror of their heavy midweek defeat behind them as they are back in front of their home fans when they face Ipswich on Saturday. The Tractor Boys come into this one seemingly on the comeback trail having faltered in league and cup in recent weeks, and may see the Swans as there for the taking with the hosts on a run of one win in seven.

John Busby is the man in charge of these two at the weekend, with his only experience of either of these clubs in 16 Championship games this term being Swansea’s 3-0 win at Millwall in late September.

Both clubs have contrasting fortunes with Busby in charge, with Swansea winning just 2 in 7, while Ipswich have won 4 of their 5 matches under his control.