For Preston North End’s first home game after the resumption of the Championship, referee Oliver Langford will be the man in charge.
It will be the match official’s second visit to Deepdale this season, having been the man with the whistle for our live TV game against West Bromwich Albion back in November, when a late penalty gave the Baggies the win.
The previous season, Oliver was in charge of three of our Championship matches in 2018/19. His last being the 1-0 derby day win over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park, when Daniel Johnson scored the winner. The ref was also the match official at the end of January, as the Lilywhites triumphed 2-0 at the Bet365 Stadium against Stoke City.
Prior to that he refereed our Carabao Cup third round tie with Middlesbrough back in September and before that it had been 12 months since he last took charge of a game at Deepdale.
The West Midlands official, prior to the aforementioned Boro game, last took charge of another previous clash with Cardiff City at Deepdale in September 2017, when the Lilywhites ran out 3-0 winners against Neil Warnock’s Bluebirds.
The previous season he took charge of another three North End games. His first was the live Sky victory over Wigan Athletic back in September 2016, his second, our first match of the new year, at Burton Albion and his third the goalless draw away at Barnsley in February.
He also twice took charge of the Lilywhites in 2015/16; the goalless draw against Derby County, when goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard made his debut for the club, and the April trip to Middlesbrough.
His first game in change of North End before that was the clash with Swindon at the County Ground in November 2014.
This will be his first Bluebirds game of the season, having officiated 28 games, that have seen 112 cautions and four red cards so far.
He will be assisted by Phil Dermott and Jonathan Hunt, with experienced Championship match official Rob Jones acting as the fourth official for the game.