Howard Webb Refs West Ham United Game

Last updated : 26 January 2007 By Gary Holmes

Experienced top-flight official Mr. Webb will be taking charge of Watford for the third time this season, and incidentally the previous two occasions have also been away to London opposition.

The South Yorkshire official presided over the Golden Boys' three goal Premiership reversal against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in October, a pretty uneventful game that saw Tommy Smith become the only Watford player to enter the merry whistle blower's note book, for unsporting behaviour.

A month later, Mr. Webb again took charge of Aidy Boothroyd's men during their four goal league reversal to Jose Mourinho's Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, where Lloyd Doyley picked up a yellow card, also for unsporting behaviour.

Mr. Webb has also refereed two league games involving opponents West Ham United this season, a 3-1 victory over Charlton Athletic on the opening day and a four goal drubbing at Bolton Wanderers on the second Saturday in December, a game that hastened the departure of manager, Alan Pardew from Upton Park.

The 35-year-old has taken charge of 19 Premiership games during the current campaign, sending off three players, Charlton Athletics' Djimi Traore in the afore mentioned fixture between the Addicks and West Ham United on the first day of the season, Manchester City's Ousmane Dabo in their televised reversal at Reading in early September and Arsenal's Philippe Senderos during their surprising odd goal in three loss away to Fulham at the end of November.

Webb began refereeing in 1989 and progressed to the national list of referees in 1998 before further advancement saw him promoted to the Premier League in 2003.

Amongst a number of high profile top flight matches Mr. Webb also took charge of the Division Two Play-off Final between Cardiff City and Queens Park Rangers at the Millennium Stadium in 2003.

Mr. Webb will be joined by Mr. G. B. Tuner and Mr. T. Massey as his assistants at Upton Park at the weekend.

For a detailed head-to-head between the two sides, please click here.