Miller to referee on Saturday

Pat Miller from Bedfordshire is to referee Saturday's League One game at Edgar Street against Crewe.

Miller did not referee a game involving Hereford United last season but was in charge of two games in the previous campaign.

The first was against Shrewsbury at the Gay Meadow in December 2006 which the Bulls lost 3-0. In that game Miller sent Dean Beckwith off.

Here is a reminder:

The Beckwith Sending-Off

More detail has come to light over how and why Dean Beckwith was sent-off this afternoon at Shrewsbury.

In his report for the Hereford Times, Richard Prime wrote:

Dean Beckwith received a red card for retaliating after an offence by Cooke which went unseen by the officials.

Fifteen minutes from time, Brown threw the ball out to start another Hereford attack after a Shrewsbury move broke down.

The linesman then drew referee Pat Miller's attention to an offence that few others on the ground had seen and Beckwith was sent off and a penalty awarded.

Keith Hall for BBC Hereford and Worcester reported the incident:

Wayne Brown had made a tremendous save but the linesman had raised his flag on the far side and after conferring with the referee a penalty kick was awarded and Dean Beckwith was red carded for an apparant use of the elbow.

The Official Shrewsbury Town report says:

Hereford were down to 10 men after an off the ball incident, play had moved on when Dean Beckwith and Andy Cooke clashed, Cooke was walking away when Beckwith swung an elbow which saw Cooke go to ground, the linesman flagged and after a brief chat ref Miller had no hesitation in showing a straight red for the Hereford defender and awarded a penalty to Town.

Whether the cameras will have picked up the incident remains to be seen. But whilst there is no excuse for retaliating, Beckwith may be able to suggest he was provoked.

Meanwhile Graham Turner told the press that he didn't see the penalty.

Miller's other game in charge that season was against Rochdale at Edgar Street.

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