Ref Watch: Derby County (A)

Referee: PETER WRIGHT
Assistants: Thomas Harty and Daniel Robinson
Fourth Official: Jacob Miles

Whenever I write about Peter Wright, I’m drawn to one moment. He gave one of the most famous penalties of Lincoln City’s modern era, the leveller at Gateshead, back in 2017. We went into the final minutes 1-0 down, but Sean Long’s cross was handled, and Peter Wright pointed to the spot for the second time in the game. Neither penalty could be disputed, and at the time, if you’d told me he’d be taking charge of City in League One six years later, I’d have bitten your hand off!

He spent another year in the National League before joining us in the EFL in our title-winning season. His first visit to Sincil Bank as a Football League referee came as we drew 1-1 with Port Vale on New Year’s Day 2019. On that occasion, he could have sent off Anthony Kay for them, but it wasn’t cut and dried, as I wrote: “There’s an argument he (Kay) could have seen red, but the referee chose two other targets and kept Kay on the field. It would have been harsh to dismiss him, but those with rose-tinted glasses might feel differently.” I’m certainly not averse to a referee who tries to keep the game 11v11, even if it is against us.

Imps v Port Vale – Courtesy Graham Burrell

The following season, we had Wright again, this time away at Huddersfield in the EFL Cup. I seem to recall another decent display, although beating the Terriers was enough in itself. I don’t think we spoke much about Mr Wright, and that’s the mark of a good ref, right? A couple of seasons back, he was at the Bank once as we drew 1-1 with Rotherham, and he officiated us once away, a 1-1 draw with Fleetwood that I remember absolutely nothing at all about.

I remember plenty about the last time he was at the Bank – it was the 0-0 draw with Cambridge which left me disillusioned with our direction for perhaps the first time since we’d come out of the National League.

He’s mainly officiated in League Two, nine matches in total. He’s 11/54 for fouls per game (just over 22), and yet 33/54 for fouls given per tackle. That suggests he’s been unlucky with a few really tough matches. He’s 27/54 for yellows per game, dead on four, which isn’t too horrific.