Referee for this Saturday’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Dundee Utd at Tannadice is the experienced Iain Brines.
Brines will be taking charge of his third ‘Well game of the current SPL campaign, having been the man in the middle for the games against St Johnstone in early September and St Mirren at Fir Park one month later.
A Nick Blackman wonder strike and an own-goal from Kevin Rutkiewicz was enough to earn the Steelmen all three points in Perth and late goals from Tom Hateley and Jamie Murphy gave ‘Well a 3-1 against Danny Lennon’s men.
To his credit, Brines was excellent in both matches with the game at McDiarmid Park passing off without a single caution; a rarity in modern football.
He will be a more than familiar face to ‘Well fans over the years. Last season, he looked after the games at Easter Road in December (2-0 defeat), the 1-0 home win against Kilmarnock in February and the 2-1 defeat at Celtic Park in April.
The 43-year-old, who has been a top-flight official for a decade and amongst FIFA’s elite group for five years, has had a busy campaign with Saturday being his tenth SPL fixture of the season.
However, despite his long top-flight career, Brines has never taken charge of a Motherwell and Dundee Utd game at Tannadice.
He did handle the 1-2 defeat at Fir Park back in November 2002 when a Jim Hamilton double cancelled out Dirk Lehman’s goal for ‘Well. He also oversaw the 4-2 win in September 2004 courtesy of goals from David Clarkson, Alex Burns and a Scott McDonald brace and, most recently, the 2-1 win in March 2009 when strikes from John Sutton and David Clarkson gave the Steelmen all three points.
His overall record in charge of the Steelmen is a bit of a mix bag. Of the 25 games he has taken charge of, Motherwell have won nine, draw four and lost twelve.
In those games, 95 players have seen yellow, 44 of which in claret and amber, while three have been sent for an early bath.
Iain will be assisted by Alasdair Ross and Ross Haswell with Frank McDermott on fourth official duties.