Ref Watch...Mark Clattenburg

Last updated : 19 April 2007 By Les Roberts
And that was the 0-2 defeat at Pompey when Matt Taylor scored the most outrageous goal of the season.

Not the goal of the season though as James McFadden scored that last week!

But, speaking of Matt Taylor, does he remind anyone else of James Beattie in his Southampton days?

He doesn't really do much all match but then pops up with mad volley that has the rumour mill, er, milling, with stories of summer moves to the North East.

And why did James Beattie seem to lose the ability to slot from 45 yards, actually from 4.5 yards, the second he signed for the Blues?

Anyway, Mark Clattenburg…

He booked four Everton players in that match, one being Beattie, and the others being Andies van der Meyde and Johnson and Alan Stubbs.

But the next Everton match he refereed holds much fonder memories as it was the 1-0 win over Arsenal.

Again, a clutch of Everton players were booked as Johnson and Stubbs were cautioned once more and Fernandes, Lescott, Vaughan and Anichebe also picked up yellow cards.

This will be his first West Ham game of the season and he has refereed just two Hammers' matches since 2004/05.

And West Ham are yet to win with Mr Clattenburg in the middle.

He took charge of last season's 1-2 defeat at Man City and the 1-1 draw with Sheffield United in round four of the 2005 FA Cup.

So, all things running true to form, we are going to win this one but pick up loads of bookings on the way!