Ref Watch – Lincoln City v Bolton Wanderers

The Football League has now announced the officials that will take charge of the match between Lincoln City and Bolton Wanderers in League One.

Lincoln City host Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday, January 14 for the match at Sincil Bank and the match carries a 7.45pm kick-off.

Referee: Neil Hair.
Assistants Refs: Barry Gordon and David Benton.
Fourth Official: Hristo Karaivanov.

Neil Hair has been the man in the middle for two matches involving Lincoln City:

07/03/17: Braintree Town 0-4 Lincoln City (Conference) – 1 yellow card
23/10/18: Lincoln City 2-2 Carlisle United (League Two) – no cards shown

TOTALS: Matches: 2 | Yellow Cards: 1 | Red Cards: 0

He received an average rating of 4.78 following the 2-2 draw at home against Carlisle United in League Two last season. Some of the comments can be found below:

plumbob: “5.5/10.

Slightly below average. On another day we might have had a couple of pens in the first half. All over Rhead at a set-piece and, what looked, a clear handball. But might have also ruled out our second for a clear Bostwick block.

Maybe could have booked himself for constant foul play, having obstructed our midfield 2 or 3 times.”

sedgleyimp: “Will go for an average 6. There was what seemed to be a clear handball for us in the first half but that should have been seen by the linesman who had an unobstructed view of it rather than the ref who was some distance away so the ref didn’t get the kind of help needed in those circumstances.

Otherwise unfussy and unnoticed which is often what you need in a referee.”

Eweimps: “Under par for me with little consistency in his decisions. Not much better than Saturday. What do we need to do to get a penalty at the moment? And a blatant obstruction in midfield!

4/10.”

Neil Hair was promoted to the Football League from the National League list before the start of the 2018/19 season.

Quotes from Peterborough Telegraph: “It was a dream rather than an expectation to referee in the Football League when I started,” Hair said. “I guess it’s the same for most young referees, but not many make it so it’s a very proud moment for me.

Neil Hair: 2019/20 Stats:

03/08/19: Forest Green Rovers 1-0 Oldham Athletic (League Two) – 3 yellow cards
06/08/19: Portsmouth 3-0 Birmingham City (EFL Cup) – 5 yellow cards
10/08/19: Ipswich Town 1-1 Sunderland (League One) – 2 yellow cards
20/08/19: Gillingham 2-2 Blackpool (League One) – 1 yellow card
27/08/19: Southend United 1-4 Milton Keynes (EFL Cup) – 1 yellow card
07/09/19: Bristol Rovers 3-3 Accrington Stanley (League One) – 3 yellow cards and 1 red card
21/09/19: Newport County 1-1 Exeter City (League Two) – 4 yellow cards
12/10/19: Stevenage 2-1 Grimsby Town (League Two) – 1 yellow card
22/10/19: Mansfield Town 1-2 Salford City (League Two) – 3 yellow cards
26/10/19: Rotherham United 0-1 Wycombe Wanderers (League One) – 7 yellow cards
02/11/19: Doncaster Rovers 2-2 Burton Albion (League One) – 2 yellow cards
09/11/19: Accrington Stanley 0-2 Crewe Alexandra (FA Cup) – 4 yellow cards and 1 red card
03/12/19: Colchester United 1-2 Stevenage (EFL Trophy) – 6 yellow cards
07/12/19: Exeter City 3-2 Northampton Town (League Two) – 3 yellow cards
14/12/19: Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 Burton Albion (League One) – 4 yellow cards
26/12/19: Southend United 2-2 Milton Keynes (League One) – 5 yellow cards
01/01/20: Cambridge United 2-3 Mansfield Town (League Two) – 3 yellow cards and 1 red card
11/01/20: Crawley Town 2-1 Bradford City (League Two) – 1 yellow card

TOTALS: Games: 18 | Yellow Cards: 58 | Red Cards: 3

Neil Hair oversaw a total of 30 matches last season, showing 102 yellow cards and 7 red cards.

He showed 7 cards on two occasions: Cheltenham Town 2-2 Mansfield Town (7 yellow cards) in League Two and Coventry City 1-2 Burton Albion (6 yellow cards and 1 red card) in League One.

Hair was the man in the middle for 26 matches during the 2017/18 season. He showed a total of 81 yellow cards and 3 red cards during those 26 matches.

He was most card happy in the match between Aldershot Town and Tranmere Rovers in the Conference when he showed a total of 9 yellow cards.

During the 2016/17 season, he took in 27 matches, showing a total of 76 yellow cards and 4 red cards.

Hair was most card happy in the 1-1 draw between Boreham Wood and Aldershot Town in the Conference when he showed a total of 6 yellow cards.

Sources: English Football League & Soccer Base.

Ref Watch – Lincoln City v Bolton Wanderers:https://t.co/Ny61PBK0Ba#ImpsAsOne #ProudToBeImps #BWFC

— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) January 13, 2020

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