Referee for this Saturday’s SPFL Premiership clash with Hearts here at Fir Park is Brian Colvin.
Brian will be handling his second Motherwell match of the current campaign, the other being the League Cup Third Round clash at Livingston just over three weeks ago.
Bob McHugh put the Fir Parkers ahead before James McFadden made it two with a deft back-heel flick. Livi reduced the deficit late into stoppage time but it wasn’t enough as ‘Well progressed to the Quarter Finals with a 2-1 win.
Brian took charge of two ‘Well matches last term too.
The first was his first ever in charge of the Steelmen – a 3-1 win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park last October.
Jamie Murphy had put Motherwell in a commanding lead with two goals before the break. Nicky Law added a third with a cheeky dink over the goalkeeper before Saints pulled one back late on.
The second was a 2-2 draw with St Mirren at Fir Park. Michael Higdon opened the scoring for the Steelmen only for Connor Newton and Lewis Guy to put the visitors ahead.
Step forward James McFadden with another piece of brilliance from a dead ball, curling a free-kick high past Craig Samson to rescue a point.
In those three matches, he has produced just five yellow cards, two of which were flashed at players in Claret and Amber, and one red for Livi’s Jason Talbot for a reckless lunge at Stevie Hammell.
Brian is no stranger to our opponents having officiated Hearts’ SPFL League Cup win at Raith Rovers back in August; Gary Locke’s men progressing 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw during the regulation time.
It has already been a busy season for the 35-year old. He has handled two fixtures in the Scottish Premiership; St Johnstone’s 4-0 demolition of Ross County at McDiarmid Park and Dundee Utd’s 4-2 success in Dingwall.
He also took charge of Rangers’ 8-0 thumping of Stenhousemuir at Ibrox as well as Scottish Championship matches at Dundee, Dumbarton and Dumfries.
He will be assisted by Francis Andrews and Graeme Leslie with Greg Aitken on 4th Official duty. John Young is the referee observer with Frank Coulston as the SPFL delegate.