Sunderland take on Plymouth Argyle this weekend in the Championship, but hopefully, there’ll be no crazy refereeing decisions to debate after the game.
Last time out, Sunderland registered a 1-0 win over Derby County. The victory could and should have been beyond doubt way before the final whistle, though, with Regis Le Bris’ men having the ball in the net a second time.
However, Wilson Isidor did not get the goal he desperately needed. It is still unclear why Isidor’s goal was disallowed, though it appears to have been down to an incorrect call for offside from the fourth official while the Sunderland players were celebrating.
It’s a decision that sparked confusion and outrage from pundits in the aftermath, and now, we’ll be looking to the match officials at the weekend to restore some order.
Oliver Langford will be referee for Sunderland vs Plymouth Argyle
As per the EFL, we know that Oliver Langford will officiate the upcoming fixture between Sunderland and Plymouth Argyle.
Langford will be joined by assistants Mark Dwyer and Hugh Gilroy, while Jeremy Simpson will be the fourth official on the day.
Oliver Langford’s referee record in 2024/25
So far this season, Oliver Langford has taken charge of 17 games, 16 of which have been in the Championship and one further game in the League Cup.
He’s a referee who is not afraid to show a caution, with 59 yellow cards given out so far. But, interestingly, Langford is yet to show a red card to any player. Let’s hope he doesn’t change that come the weekend.
| Statistics | Oliver Langford record this season |
|---|---|
| Games | 17 |
| Yellow cards | 59 |
| Red cards | 0 |
| Fouls per game | 22.59 |
| Fouls per tackle | 0.69 |
| Penalties awarded | 5 |
Of the five penalties Langford has awarded this season, two have gone the way of Leeds United, with the latest coming on New Year’s Day in the 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers.
Langford was the referee for Sunderland’s 2-0 win over Oxford at the Stadium of Light back in October. He showed a couple of yellow cards to each side, with Chris Mepham and Wilson Isidor getting cautioned for the Black Cats.