Source: FOOTYMAD
Tanner is referee at Liberty Stadium
After two debutants in the last two games, it is back to a more familiar referee tomorrow when Somerset based Steve Tanner takes charge of our game against Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium. Tanner was previously a select group referee but was axed after a poor 2008/09 season. He hasn't refereed a Premier League game since March 2009, that being a game between Manchester City and Sunderland when he wrongly sent off Sunderland's George McCartney early in the game.His axing meant we didn't see him last week, and his last Burnley game was one where he was probably more concerned with the weather than the players on the pitch as the fog came down during our 3-0 win over Derby in November 2008.There were three yellow cards that day with all three going to Derby players and the game passed by without any real problems. That's been the case for most, if not all, of the Burnley games he's refereed.HIs first time with Burnley was at Coventry when he had a poor game in a 2-0 win for the Clarets, but he's since refereed three televised victories against Wolves (twice) and Preston when he's refereed well.He's certainly been busy with his cards this season and by last Saturday had run up totals of 21 yellow and two red cards in just four games, although on Tuesday he had a card free night in Stoke's Carling Cup win against Shrewsbury.The players he's sent off are Doncaster's Simon Gillett in their 2-0 win at Preston on the opening day of the season and Robbie Threlfall of Bradford City in their 2-0 loss at Torquay last week. His yellow card count, which includes former Claret John Spicer, is ten home players and eleven away players.In our Rate The Ref feature he sits right at the top with a rating of 89.20 from his two qualifying games. After suffering Eltringham and Salisbury this week it would be good to see that level of performance again.The assistant referees are Peter Gooch (Lancashire) and Jason Knowles (West Yorkshire). The fourth official is Rob Merchant (Staffordshire). Previous Burnley games:SeasonOppsVResYRBurnley players cardeda2004/05Coventrya2-040Duff Hyde McGreal2005/06Wolvesa1-010Duff2006/07Prestonh3-230.2006/07Leedsa0-130Duff J O'Connor Thomas2007/08Wolvesa3-220Carlisle2008/09Derbyh3-030.
