Ref-Watch: Fulham (A)

Remember when we said getting a 2-2 draw away to Wigan on the opening day was a great result?

You might not necessarily want to be reminded, but the ref at the DW Stadium, Mark Brown is back again in charge of a Reading match this weekend, as we travel to Fulham.

The East Yorkshire official gave out two yellow cards that day, the second Royals fixture he has refereed - we lost the other one to Blackpool in the 2011/12 season.

He's got history with a former Royal though, with Dave Kitson describing him as ''horrific, horrendous, possibly the worst referee I have ever had in my career... Probably the most arrogant man I have ever come across on the pitch in my life''. And yes, Kitson's Oxford United did lose the game.

Brown also ran into trouble in February 2011 when Head-Ref Mike Riley stripped Mark of his whistle for three weeks following his Twitter and Facebook jibe at Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard. He also received a social networking ban for his 'joke'.

He is yet to hit the headlines so far in 2014-15, having taken charge of 20 fixtures (six in the Championship), with 37 yellow cards and five red cards coming out of his pocket.

As for penalties, Mr Brown, who is also a lover of horse-racing, has given four this campaign with three being scored.

With Fulham receiving a red card after just 18 minutes in the reverse fixture back in September, a repeat could help Reading immensely, with the Cottagers having improved since our comfortable 3-0 win at the Madjeski.