For the fourth time this season Scott Duncan takes charge of the Lilywhites for this weekend’s clash with Birmingham City.
He has already been the referee at Deepdale twice and once away from home, having been the match official at Sheffield United earlier on in the season and the home games against both Brentford and Hull City.
Scott also took charge of three North End games last season, although he unfortunately only finished two! The official was appointed to take charge of the last game before Christmas, at home to Nottingham Forest, but picked up an injury early in the game and was replaced by the fourth official.
That was his second PNE appointment of the campaign, having been the man with the whistle for our goalless draw at Leeds United – our opening away game of the season back in August 2017, as well as the home clash with Ipswich Town.
The season before that he refereed the 3-0 home win over Reading in March of last year, which was his third PNE game of that season, having been referee for the EFL Cup win over Oldham Athletic at Deepdale and the defeat at Sheffield Wednesday in early December.
In 2015/16 he was the match official for the League Cup tie at Crewe Alexandra, which saw a 3-1 win for the Lilywhites and the year before that he took charge of the team twice, both at Deepdale, our 1-0 home win over Oldham back in August 2014 and the 2-2 draw with Leyton Orient in January.
This is Scott’s seventh year on the EFL lists, having been appointed to the elite group in 2012/13, taking charge of his first PNE game in what proved to be Graham Westley’s final home game, against Shrewsbury Town.
This will be his second Blues game of the season, having officiated their win at Millwall earlier in the year, whilst overall it will be his 28th game of the campaign, thus far having issued 84 cautions and seven red cards, his last game being West Brom’s 3-0 home win over Swansea City on Wednesday night.
On Saturday he will be assisted by Robert Merchant and Sam Lewis, whilst Chris Sarginson is the fourth official.