Tuesday night’s match official, taking charge of his first PNE game of the season, is the referee who officiated last season’s Gentry Day at Bolton Wanderers.
The referee is Peter Bankes, who as well as the win at the Macron Stadium, also took charge both of the last two seasons’ clashes with Aston Villa at Deepdale, our FA Cup third round victory over Gareth Ainsworth’s Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park back in January this year and the 1-1 draw with Barnsley in September 2017.
The first of the aforementioned games against Villa, were his first of two North End games in 2016/17, also officiating the game against Leeds United at Elland Road in April 2017.
Last season’s clash with the Villans was his third visit to Deepdale as a referee. His first was the 2014/15 season’s 3-2 home win over Port Vale in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and then in 2015/16 season he was here for the last game of 2015, when we defeated Hull City 1-0 just after Christmas.
This is his fifth year on the EFL referee’s list and he also took charge of our win at Chesterfield in February 2015, when former striker Joe Garner scored twice on his return from a period out injured.
This will be his second Boro game of the season, having also officiated their away win at Hillsborough last month, when they overcame Sheffield Wednesday 2-1.
The assistants on Tuesday evening will be Mark Dwyer and Shaun Hudson, with fellow Select Group Two referee Darren Bond acting as fourth official.