#ThrowbackFriday* to when Reading lost 6-1 to Birmingham City in December 2014 and Nigel Adkins lost his job. Sorry.
I’m not just reminding you of that embarrassing day at St. Andrew’s for no reason, but it was the most recent Royals game that Nigel Miller was the referee for. The County Durham official will be the whistle-blower once again when we visit Charlton on Saturday.
That demolition was the fourth game involving Reading that Miller has been the ref for, and we’ve only won once – albeit a 4-0 thrashing of Burnley in 2010, when he awarded the Royals a penalty and sent Clarets defender Leon Cort off.
So far in 2015-16, the 54 year old has been the man in the middle on 23 occasions, but only seven times in the Championship. He has shown 58 yellow cards and three reds, although not since October has he pulled out the latter. He has also awarded four penalties this campaign, but again not since October.
Miller’s greatest achievement to date came during his time as an assistant referee in the 2003 FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Southampton. It was a controversial appointment, as just eight months earlier he ran the line at Leeds vs Manchester United, despite supposedly taking time off his day job as a policeman as he was ‘ill’. Now that’s some way to blow your cover Nigel!
Adrian Tranter and Ian Rathbone will be the Assistant Referees in South East London, whilst on Fourth Official duty is Nicholas Kinseley.