Phil SumblerThe Swans will be looking to a strong performance from John Brooks who takes charge of us for the fourth time this season as he oversees the second leg against Barnsley on Saturday.
So far this season he has overseen our 2-0 win at Cardiff in December as well as the 1-1 home draw with promotion rivals Brentford at the end of January, a night where he angered their fans by allowing a late equaliser from Conor Hourihane despite what they claim to be an elbow on their flapping goalkeeper from Jake Bidwell.ย He was also in charge of our heavy defeat at Huddersfield back in February.
In two of those games he has branded a red card which could make for an interesting game ahead particularly as emotions are bound to run high given the prize at stake.
He will be assisted by Nick Greenhalgh and Matthew Jones, while Matthew Donohue will be the fourth official.
30 year oldย Brooksย was appointed to the EFL list in 2016 and has been on the FIFA Assistant Referees list since 2015. It will only be his 5th game in charge of the Swans – the last being a 2-1 win over Hull at the Liberty on the opening day of last season. In that game he showed two yellow cards – one to Nathan Dyer for failing to leave the pitch at the nearest point when substituted – a new rule that had been introduced at the start of that season.
