The match officials have been confirmed for the League One tie between Lincoln City and Wigan Athletic at Sincil Bank on Saturday 21st September (12:30).
Referee: Craig Hicks.
Assistant Referee: Thomas Cook.
Assistant Referee: Kenwyn Hughes.
Fourth Official: Richie Watkins.
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Craig Hicks has been the man in the middle for 18 matches involving City and just 3 involving Wigan Athletic.
His most recent match involving City was the 1-1 draw at home versus Port Vale in League One last season, when he showed 2 yellow cards and 2 red cards, including a straight red for Paudie O’Connor.
He received an average rating of 5.33 following the 1-1 draw at home against Port Vale last season. Some of the comments can be found below:
PerthImp: “5/10. Based on an average of 6 for the first half and 4 for the second.”
evenstephen: “5/10. Seemed to have an unusual understanding of the advantage rule and in the second half the same could be said about fouls and handballs.”
Rasenimp “Controversially I thought he was fine. Saw some people moaning about the challenge on Vale but I thought from my view he looked a bit lightweight/went down easy. The time wasting is annoying but he added the time on and he can’t just fireman’s carry the keeper off or someone with a head injury can he?
Got the Port Vale red right and even if the O’Connor one wasn’t a red (from reactions I figure it probably was but didn’t see it) the 4th official gave him the detail/recommended the decision not him.
There were some minor things – like I thought one or two fouls maybe one on Duffy second half but it wouldn’t surprise me if seeing them again he was maybe right.
7/10.”
His most recent match involving the visitors was their 2-0 win away at Exeter City in the FA Cup last November when he showed 5 yellow cards, including a booking for Thelo Aasgaard, and also a booking for Will Aimson (now at Wigan Athletic having joined from Exeter City).
So far this season, he has refereed four matches, showing 11 yellow cards (2.75) and no red cards. He was most card happy in the League Two encounter between Colchester United and Harrogate Town (0-1) when he showed 4 yellow cards,
Craig Hicks oversaw a total of 26 matches during the 2023/24 season, showing 96 yellow cards (3.69) and 4 red cards. He showed 8 yellow cards in the EFL Trophy match between Newport County and West Ham United U21s, including a booking for former Wigan Athletic striker Omar Bogle.
Sources: English Football League and Soccerbase.
Lincoln City v Wigan Athletic – Match Officials Confirmed:https://t.co/R0NkGSkin0#WeAreImps #WAFC #SkyBetLeagueOne #EFL
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) September 20, 2024
