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The Premier League have confirmed their match official appointments for the upcoming clash between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest.
Pep Guardiola’s players will be looking to continue their fine form across competitions and maintain fierce pressure on title rivals Arsenal at the summit of the Premier League table after their latest scalp.
After a hotly-contested 90 minutes at Elland Road on Saturday evening, it was a solitary goal from Antoine Semenyo that separated the two sides at full-time, handing Manchester City another crucial three points.
That victory moved City back to within just two points of Arsenal ahead of Mikel Arteta’s side going head-to-head with Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea in an all-London affair on Sunday afternoon at the Emirates Stadium.
The clash with Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium marks the start of a mammoth fixture list across the month of March that could decide the club’s trophy-winning fate come the end of the season.
City face the challenge of an FA Cup fifth round tie away at Newcastle United after meeting Forest, before a two-legged clash with Real Madrid in the Champions League’s last-16 is sandwiched by a visit to the London Stadium to face West Ham in the Premier League.
The month concludes with the small matter of the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium, in a meeting that some feel could have psychological ramifications on the rest of the title race.
Ahead of the meeting between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest, the Premier League have now announced the list of match officials to oversee proceedings at the Etihad Stadium!
Match Referee
Ahead of Manchester City’s meeting with Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night, the Premier League have confirmed that Darren England has been appointed to referee duties at the Etihad Stadium.
The 40-year-old referee will be overseeing his 21st match of the ongoing season, having featured in contests across the Premier League, Carabao Cup, UEFA Europa League qualifying, and the FA Cup.
In his 20 matches so far this season, the Doncaster-born referee has issued a total of 77 yellow cards, two second yellow card dismissals, no straight red cards, whilst awarding five penalties in the process.
As for Manchester City’s record in matches officiated by Darren England, Pep Guardiola’s side have only lost just once in the 12 such matches, winning all of the other 11 contests across competitions.
However, that solitary defeat came this season in one of three Manchester City matches overseen by England, as the Blues fell to a disappointing 2-1 loss at Brighton & Hove Albion in the opening month of the season.
The other two contests have resulted in victories for Manchester City; a 0-1 away win at Brentford in early October, as well as a 0-3 away win at Crystal Palace prior to Christmas last December.
Assistant Referees
Accompanying referee Darren England at the Etihad Stadium this week will be Scott Ledger and Akil Howson, who have been handed duties as assistant referees for the contest.
Video Assistant Referees
Overseeing Manchester City against Nottingham Forest from Stockley Park and within the VAR Hub will be referee Tony Harrington as the Video Assistant Referee, alongside Dan Robathan as Assistant Video Assistant Referee.
Fourth Official
Standing between the two dugouts at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night and managing affairs involving Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and Nottingham Forest’s Vitor Pereira will be referee Thomas Bramall in the role of fourth official.