Ref Watch: Friend to officiate Crystal Palace v Stoke City

Kevin Friend has been named as the man in the middle when Stoke visit Alan Pardew`s Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Leicester and Rutland County F.A. referee was promoted to the Premier League select group of referee`s in 2009.

Friend`s biggest fixture to date was the 2013 League Cup final between Bradford and Swansea at Wembley Stadium.

He is currently Stoke`s joint most successful referee this season, averaging three points per game for the Potters.

The 44-year-old has been in charge of 18 fixtures so far this season, handing out 55 yellow cards and three red cards at an average of 3.22 cards per game.

The official has been in charge of Stoke twice this season; their home victories against Manchester United and Aston Villa. He handed out six yellows card over the fixture, one to Bojan Krkic.

Bristol born Friend has been in charge of Crystal Palace once this season; their 3-0 home defeat against Chelsea. He handed out three yellows over the fixture; three being handed out to Crystal Palace players.

S Beck and A Gunn are Friend`s assistant referees.

Stoke record with Friend (2015/16): P 2 W 2 D 0 L 0 F 4 A 1 PTS 6 AV. PTS 3

Crystal Palace record with Friend (2015/16): P 1 W 0 D 0 L 1 F 5 A 0 PTS 0 AV. PTS 0


Stoke’s Referee Record 2015/16

1. Kevin Friend P 2 W 2 D 0 L 0 F 4 A 1 YC 1 RC 0 PTS 6 AV. PTS 3
1. Mike Jones P 1 W 1 D 0 L 0 F 1 A 0 YC 0 RC 0 PTS 3 AV. PTS 3
1. Graham Scott P 1 W 1 D 0 L 0 F 3 A 1 YC 2 RC 0 PTS 3 AV. PTS 3
4. Neil Swarbrick P 3 W 2 D 0 L 1 F 4 A 5 YC 2 RC 0 PTS 6 AV. PTS 2
5. Craig Pawson P 3 W 1 D 2 L 0 F 2 A 1 YC 3 RC 0 PTS 5 AV. PTS 1.66
6. Lee Mason P 4 W 2 D 0 L 2 F 5 A 5 YC 3 RC 1 PTS 6 AV. PTS 1.5
6. Anthony Taylor P 2 W 1 D 0 L 1 F 1 A 1 YC 5 RC 0 PTS 3 AV. PTS 1.5
8. Mark Clattenburg P 3 W 1 D 1 L 1 F 6 A 8 YC 5 RC 0 PTS 4 AV. PTS 1.33
8. Martin Atkinson P 3 W 1 D 1 L 1 F 4 A 4 YC 3 RC 0 PTS 4 AV. PTS 1.33
10. Robert Madley P 4 W 1 D 1 L 2 F 8 A 4 YC 7 RC 0 PTS 4 AV. PTS 1
11. Andre Marriner P 3 W 0 D 2 L 1 F 2 A 5 YC 4 RC 0 PTS 2 AV. PTS 0.66
12. Roger East P 2 W 0 D 1 L 1 F 0 A 3 YC 4 RC 0 PTS 1 AV. PTS 0.5
13. Mike Dean P 3 W 0 D 1 L 2 F 1 A 6 YC 4 RC 1 PTS 1 AV. PTS 0.33
14. Michael Oliver P 1 W 0 D 0 L 1 F 0 A 1 YC 0 RC 2 PTS 0 AV. PTS 0
14. Jonathan Moss P 1 W 0 D 0 L 1 F 0 A 2 YC 1 RC 0 PTS 0 AV. PTS 0