Sunderland take on Tony Mowbray’s West Brom in the Championship on Saturday afternoon, in what’s become a bit of a crunch match in the top six.
As things stand, both Sunderland and West Brom sit in the top six with Sunderland in 4th place of the Championship table and West Brom in 6th.
But there’s a rather staggering 15 point gap between the Black Cats and the Baggies after Sunderland beat Millwall 1-0 last time out to mark a return to winning ways following the March international break.
Regis Le Bris’ side have been in shaky form of late having won just two of six games leading into the break, whilst West Brom have won two of their last eight now, losing 1-0 away at Norwich City in their last outing.
West Brom appointed Mowbray in January after Carlos Corberan left for Valencia. Mowbray has four wins from 12 games in charge of the Baggies so far, making for a 33.33% win rate compared to his 40% win rate at Sunderland.
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EFL appoint referee Tom Nield for West Brom vs Sunderland
As ever, both Le Bris and Mowbray will have an eye on which referee is named in charge of the game between West Brom and Sunderland at The Hawthorns on Saturday. But thankfully they’ve been given a referee who’s not been involved in too many controversies so far this season; and thankfully for Sunderland, one who’s not so card happy.
The EFL have announced Tom Nield as the referee for Saturday. Of 48 referees who’ve officiated in the Championship this season, Nield ranks 19th for yellow cards-per-game (4.11), made more impressive by the fact that he’s overseen 12th most games (18) of any second tier official so far in 2024/25. Nield has also only given out one red card.
For Sunderland and Le Bris, it’s good news because the Black Cats have two key players in Wilson Isidor and Jobe Bellingham on nine yellow cards and at risk of a two-game suspension if they pick up another yellow before they make their 38th appearance of the season.
Bellingham is on 37 games and Isidor on 36.
Scott Parker left fuming with Tom Nield after incident in November
Whilst Nield hasn’t been in headlines too often, there was one incident November of this season where Burnley’s Jaidon Anthony saw a goal ruled out in a goalless draw against West Brom, for what Nield deemed a foul in the build up.
Burnley manager Scott Parker was left furious with Nield after the game, telling BBC Radio Lancashire: “It’s a goal, there’s no two ways about it, the referee’s given it from a big distance and the linesman hasn’t given it.
“It’s a legit goal – I don’t really want to get into that but obviously it’s disappointing regarding that decision.”
No referee is immune to criticism. But Nield holds a fairly stead record and his apparent reluctance to show cards is good news for Le Bris where both Isidor and Bellingham are concerned, as a two-game suspension for either would be a real headache for Le Bris in the final run in.
Sunderland’s game at West Brom kicks off at 12:30pm on Saturday.