FA Cup Ref-Watch: Derby County (A)

Steve Clarke's side will play a 10th away game in their last 12 FA Cup ties when we visit Derby County this weekend, and referee Craig Pawson has always refereed a Reading game when we have been the away side. Coincidence.

The Royals have won two and lost two of the four games Pawson has overseen, with at least three goals being scored in three of those games.

The most recent was our 3-0 thumping by Wigan in last season's Championship encounter, but Mr Pawson has come a long way since then, mainly refereeing Premier League clashes this season.

He has been the man in the middle in the top division 18 times this season, as well as once in the Championship (Bolton vs Blackburn) and three times in the last two rounds of the FA Cup.

If that's too many numbers for you, or maths isn't your strong point, then that's 22 games in total, in which Pawson has handed out 72 yellow cards and 8 red cards.

That includes sending off West Ham goalkeeper Adrian on Wednesday, and brandishing the red twice in the 4th round of the FA Cup in Blackburn's shock win over Swansea. Swans Kyle Bartley and former Royal Gylfi Sigurdsson were the players sent for an early bath.

The other games in the competition Pawson has taken charge of in 2014-15 were Manchester United's 2-0 win at Yeovil (3rd round), and Tottenham's 4-2 comeback win at Burnley (3rd round replay).

He has officiated at Wembley in the past, sadly not in the FA Cup though, as he oversaw the 2011-12 League 2 play-off final between Crewe and Cheltenham.

Despite his gung-ho approach when handing out cards, Pawson has a much more restrained approach when it comes to penalties, giving just two so far this season.

Both were awarded to QPR, and Charlie Austin took both, missing against Hull and scoring against West Brom.

-

I'm in New York next week so there'll be no Ref-Watch for when Wigan visit the Madjeski Stadium on Tuesday (how will you manage?!).

But I will be back, and hopefully with more FA Cup Ref-Watches (even if it is just for the replay of this tie!). To keep up to date, follow me on Twitter: @OllyAllen1998.