Experienced Referee Keith Stroud has been appointed the man in the middle when the Swans welcome Stoke City to the Swansea.com stadium on Wednesday night.
It will be the fourth time that Stroud has officiated a Swansea City game this season, having been the man in the middle for the Swans defeat at league leaders Leicester City in January, the Boxing Day drubbing at Southampton and the 2-1 victory at Sunderland in February.
Referee Stroud will be assisted by Matthew Smith, and Nigel Lugg, with Josh Smith the 4th Official for the game which kicks off at 8pm due to Sky TV coverage.
If you browse Keith Stroud’s statistics when officiating Swansea City games, you’ll understand why he isn’t one of the most popular referees with Swansea City fans.
Keith Stroud EFL Championship Record 2023/2024
The Hampshire official has officiated 21 Championship game so far this season, during which he has handed out 101 yellow cards and 2 red cards.
Nine of those yellow cards have been shown to Swansea City players – Ben Cabango, Jamie Paterson, Harry Darling, Charlie Patino against Sunderland, Nathan Wood against Leicester City and Liam Cullen, Josh Tymon, Jay Fulton and Joe Allen against Southampton.
Stroud also awarded a penalty against the Swans during the game against Leicester City at the King Power stadium, which Stephy Mavididi duly scored.
This will be the second Stoke City game that Stroud has taken charge of this season, the other being the 1-0 win at Rotherham United in January, when he showed yellow cards to Wouter Burger, Ben Pearson and Jordan Thompson.