Who's the referee for Sunderland vs Plymouth?

Sunderland have a chance to create history on Saturday... by beating a Plymouth team when Anthony Backhouse is the referee.

Sunderland will get a glimpse of something quite unfamiliar when they play Plymouth this week – a referee with a good record in their matches.

There is not really many of those about, or perhaps it just feels like there are not. However, Sunderland have won more than half their games in which Anthony Backhouse has been the referee.

Furthermore, half the penalties he has awarded in the Championship this season have gone to Sunderland.

Before you get too excited though, Plymouth are unbeaten in the five matches he has taken charge of involving them.

Who is the referee for Sunderland vs Plymouth?

IMAGO / NurPhoto

Anthony Backhouse is the referee for the clash at the Stadium of Light between Sunderland and Plymouth, which is probably a good omen for the Black Cats.

This will be his ninth Championship match of the season for him and the second match at the Stadium of Light he has officiated, the other being the 3-1 win over Norwich City.

He will be assisted by Sam Lewis and Alex James, with Will Finnie taking Fourth Official duties.

Anthony Backhouse stats (23/24 season)

Championship Games: 8
Yellow Cards: 41
Red Cards: 0
Penalties awarded: 2

Anthony Backhouse record in Sunderland matches

Matches: 11
Sunderland wins: 6
Draws: 3
Sunderland defeats: 2

Notable Anthony Backhouse Sunderland Games

Backhouse is a relative newcomer to the Championship, with this season being his first taking charge of regular matches at this level.

That means he was largely working his way up to this level at the same time that Sunderland were, so the Black Cats got quite familiar with him during their League One days.

So, let’s have a look at some notable Sunderland matches which Backhouse has officiated.

Sunderland 3-1 Norwich (Championship, 28 October 2023)

Backhouse was the referee for the excellent home win over Norwich earlier this season at the Stadium of Light.

Tony Mowbray’s men recovered from falling behind halfway through the first half and actually went into the break ahead thanks to Trai Hume and a brilliant Dan Neil goal.

Jack Clarke added a third from the penalty spot late on.

This game was also Nazariy Rusyn’s first start for Sunderland, by the way.

Sunderland 0-1 Mansfield (FA Cup, 7 November 2020)

As if having to play in the first round of the FA Cup wasn’t humiliating enough, Sunderland seemed to make a point of always losing them – usually to Mansfield.

Backhouse was the referee for one of those Manfield defeats, when Nigel Clough brought his side to his hometown and depressed everyone (except Mansfield supporters, obviously).

We won’t embed a video of this one, if it’s all the same to you…

Sunderland 3-0 Scunthorpe (League One, 19 August 2018)

Remember those early days in League One, when we all thought we were only going to be there one year, would win it easily and then be able to talk about it like it was some wacky adventure afterwards?

It was Sunderland’s second home game of the season, the August sun was shining, we all wore short sleeves, the lads won 3-0 with all the goals coming before half time, Max Power scored a lovely header on his home debut…

Josh Maja and Chris Maguire scored the other goals. Oh, and Anthony Backhouse was the referee. 

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