This weekend’s Championship derby between Luton Town and Watford at Kenilworth Road will be overseen by referee Stephen Martin. The Staffordshire-born official has officiated five games so far this season, including four Championship matches and one in League Two. His most recent game was the 1-1 draw between Norwich City and Leeds United at Carrow Road earlier this month.
Known for his high card count, Martin has issued 34 yellow cards across his games this season, averaging just over six cautions per match. In last season’s games, he showed 104 yellow cards and two red cards over 21 matches. Notably, he was also in charge of Luton’s 4-0 victory over Preston North End in March 2022, as well as their 5-0 thrashing of Coventry City in the same season.
This weekend’s fixture marks Martin’s first time refereeing Luton since that Preston win, and he will be supported by assistant referees Mark Dwyer and Carl Fitch-Jackson, with Declan Bourne acting as the fourth official.
The game promises to be a fiery contest, and with Martin’s strict card usage, both teams will have to tread carefully to avoid costly bookings or potential dismissals.
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