Everyone will remember the single red card he has issued this season as it was shown to Iain Turner just 10 minutes into his Premiership debut. Luckily, the Blues pulled out probably their performance of the season that day and beat Blackburn 1-0. The best thing about it though was that we never looked like we were a man down and Turner's replacement, John Ruddy, hardly had a save to make.
"But I don't need a bath...I've only been on 10 minutes!" |
The only good thing about the sending off was that it pulled everyone together, crowd and players alike, and made what was probably going to pan out to be a dull match (well they invariably are against Blackburn!) into one of the highlights of the season. Having said that we could definitely do without him sending our ‘keeper off on Saturday! Oh yeah, and he also booked Neville, Hibbert, Nuno Valente and Kilbane in that match.
This season he also refereed our 1-2 home defeat to West Ham when Hibbert and Osman picked up bookings and our home defeat to Boro in the Carling Cup when he cautioned Arteta.
His record in Everton matches was much better last season as he refereed our 2-1 wins over West Brom and Portsmouth and didn't book a single one of our players.
Peter Walton has refereed two Charlton matches this season and booked just one player as Alexi Smertin was cautioned during the Addicks' 2-3 Carling Cup defeat to Blackburn.
He also took charge of two Addicks' matches last season and booked two players. Graham Stuart was cautioned during their 1-1 draw with Newcastle and Thomas was booked as Charlton lost 1-2 to Leicester in the FA Cup fifth round.
Overall, Peter Walton's ratio of 3.20 cards per game is about average for a Premiership referee so, although the Blues are sure to add to their tally of 55 yellows and six reds, it shouldn't be by too many. Unless whoever is in goal wants to get first dibs on the Matey bubblebath again!