[Albion](https://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/) will hope for the stuff of dreams and not a less welcome repeat of history as Oliver Langford takes charge of their Carabao Cup tie at Oxford.
The West Midlands referee will have the whistle for a Seagulls match for the first time in more than eight years.
His last fixture involving the club was the 1-0 defeat at home to Bristol City which saw them miss out on the Championship title in 2016-17.
Langford was in charge for the 4-3 win over Carlisle United back in 2011 when Liam Bridcutt’s late winner on the volley was hailed as “the stuff of dreams” by BBC Radio Sussex commentator Johnny Cantor.
With Diego Coppola poised to make his Albion debut, superstitious fans might notice Langford showed a red card to the club’s first Diego – Uruguayan midfielder Arismendi – in a 0-0 draw at MK Dons.
He also dismissed Gordon Greer for a second yellow card when Albion beat Blackburn at Ewood Park.
Tonight’s game will be Langford’s first in charge of a Premier League club since he officiated over Ipswich’s win at home to Inigo Calderon’s Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup.
So far this season, he has refereed two games in the Championship, one in League One and a Carabao Cup tie between Bolton and Sheffield Wednesday.
The latter saw him send off Bolton’s San Inwood before a goal from on-loan Albion winger Amario Cozier-Duberry helped the ten men force penalties.
Langford’s four games so far have brought that one red plus 12 yellows.
VAR is not in operation this evening.