At a glance:
- Jarred Gillett to referee Tottenham vs Leeds
- Leeds have 0 wins in 5 games under him this season
- Spurs have 2 wins and 2 losses under him
Tottenham Hotspur are set to host Leeds United as they hope to continue their winning momentum in the Premier League.
The two sides will face off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday, May 11. Spurs are one point above the relegation zone, and a win could arguably seal their safety if Arsenal beat West Ham.
Hence, a lot is riding on this game for the north London side, and they might have received an unlikely benefit.
Leeds have poor record under Jarred Gillett ahead of Tottenham clash
Referees haven’t been Spurs’ friends this season. Rob Jones was terrible in Tottenham’s clash against Sunderland, as they lost 1-0. There are many other games where they have arguably been hard done by as well.
However, they might get a little respite knowing their next referee. The Premier League has announced that Jarred Gillett will be the referee for Spurs’ clash against Leeds.
Neil Davies and Steve Meredith will be his assistants, with Tom Kirk as the fourth official. Craig Pawson will be the VAR official.
This season, Gillett has taken charge of four Tottenham games, in which the club have managed two wins and two defeats. They beat West Ham 3-0 and Crystal Palace 1-0 under him, but lost 2-1 against West Ham and 1-0 against Chelsea.
Also Read: ‘Intensity’ – Former referee on whether controversial call during Wolves vs Tottenham was right
However, Leeds have a much poorer record under Gillett in their five games under him this season. They have recorded two draws and two defeats in the Premier League and one defeat against Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final.
Tottenham’s overall record under Gillett is still poor
While it seems like a boost in the context of this season, Spurs still just have a 46% win record under Gillett overall. He has taken charge of 15 games for Tottenham, out of which they have won only seven. He also hands out 2.5 yellow cards per game to Spurs players.
Regardless, unless there is a terrible performance like Jones, the north London side must ensure that the referee is a non-factor against Leeds.
This means that they need to put in a really good performance, create chances, and score from open play consistently.
Also Read: Tottenham’s survival hopes dented by horrific refereeing decision in West Ham vs Everton
The north London side beat Leeds 2-1 at Elland Road earlier this season. However, it was a game that saw chances for both sides, and could have gone either way.
Spurs cannot afford an end-to-end game, especially when they are lacking clinical finishers. Hence, they must maintain their discipline, both in terms of the tactics and in committing fouls.
