Leeds United will welcome West Brom to Elland Road on Saturday for a Championship clash, marking their third consecutive fixture against a top-six opponent.
Daniel Farke’s side have faced no shortage of tough challenges recently, having secured victories over promotion contenders Sunderland and Sheffield United in their last two matches. Their most recent outing saw them come from behind to defeat Sheffield United 3-1, a result that cemented their position at the top of the Championship table, five points clear of second place and 24 points ahead of West Brom, who sit fifth.
The Baggies travel to Elland Road for a 12:30 pm kickoff, aiming to improve on their recent form, having won just one of their last three league games. Since taking over at The Hawthorns in January, Tony Mowbray has led West Brom to three wins, three losses, and a draw in seven matches. They head into this fixture after a 2-0 victory over Oxford United.
Farai Hallam to Officiate Leeds vs. West Brom
The English Football League has confirmed referee appointments for the upcoming round of fixtures, with Farai Hallam set to officiate this encounter. Hallam has been at the center of recent refereeing controversies, notably during Sunderland’s 1-0 defeat to Hull City, where he failed to penalize a clear handball inside the Hull penalty area.
Additionally, former Leeds boss and current Rotherham United manager Steve Evans has expressed concerns about Hallam’s ability to handle high-pressure matches. Earlier in February, Evans remarked: “Before the game, before I’d even seen the officials, I requested an experienced, strong referee who can handle this when they are going for promotion.”
Hallam’s Record in the Championship
Hallam is relatively new to officiating at this level and has never overseen a Leeds United fixture before. Saturday’s match will be his first experience of the Elland Road atmosphere, which could become intense if Leeds fall behind.
So far this season, he has refereed six Championship matches, issuing 22 yellow cards (an average of 3.67 per game) and one red card. The home team has won three of those matches, while the away side has triumphed twice, with just a single penalty awarded across all six games.
How Hallam performs on Saturday remains to be seen, but given his track record, he has already made an impression on managers this season. Farke will be hoping that the referee remains out of the spotlight and that Leeds’ quality on the pitch speaks for itself.
