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Bankes to referee Magpies' Saints showdown
Peter Bankes has been confirmed as the referee for Newcastle United’s trip to Southampton on Friday night (8pm kick-off).
The Magpies face one of the Premier League’s in-form sides on the south coast, with Merseyside official Bankes being handed his second appointment involving United so far this season.
He was the referee who awarded the late penalty which helped Steve Bruce’s side snatch a point at Tottenham Hotspur last month, which Callum Wilson converted to make it 1-1.
On that occasion, Jamal Lewis, Isaac Hayden, Jonjo Shelvey and Joelinton were handed yellow cards, along with Spurs’ Harry Winks.
Bankes’ five outings so far this term have come in the Premier League, Championship and Carabao Cup. His first game of the campaign saw him oversee Blackburn’s 5-0 cup win over Wycombe Wanderers, which also saw him dismiss the Chairboys’ Darius Charles.
That red card has been the only time Bankes has sent a player off since the start of the season, though he has issued a total of 12 yellows.
In 2019/20, he was primarily a top flight and Championship official, but did take charge of three fixtures involving Newcastle – the 1-1 draw at Wolves in January, the 3-2 FA Cup victory at Oxford United and the 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace, in which he sent off Magpies loanee Valentino Lazaro.
Neil Davies and James Mainwaring will assist him at St. Mary’s, with Graham Scott set to be the fourth official.
Chris Kavanagh will fill the role of VAR, and will be assisted by Sian Massey-Ellis.