Burnley take a brief break from their Premier League campaign when they take on Mansfield Town in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
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Now the 16-game winless streak in the league is over, the Clarets should be able to play with some more freedom.
Saying that, Burnley’s relegation struggles didn’t stop them from thrashing Millwall 5-1 in the last round of the FA Cup.
This weekend they face a Stags side that sit in 12th place in League One, but are without a win in their last five.
Nigel Clough’s men beat Harrogate Town, Accrington Stanley and Sheffield United to reach this stage.
Who is the referee for Burnley v Mansfield?
Ward dismissed Scott Parker in his last game involving Burnley (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)placeholder image
Ward dismissed Scott Parker in his last game involving Burnley (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Gavin Ward.
He’s overseen 20 games so far this season, dishing out 64 yellow cards and three reds.
The vast majority of those fixtures, 16 in fact, have come in the Championship. One has come in the FA Cup while the other three have come in the Carabao Cup.
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What history does he have with Burnley?
He’s shown red cards to Burnley players in each of his last two fixtures involving the Clarets.
He had little choice during the New Year’s Day goalless draw with Stoke City last season, when he dismissed Hannibal for a stamp.
But he also sent off CJ Egan-Riley at the full-time whistle following the 1-1 draw against West Brom in March.
Ward also showed a red card to Burnley boss Scott Parker after he came onto the pitch to query what had transpired.
Parker said afterwards: “The ref showed the red card to CJ and I just didn't have any awareness of what had taken place. My main focus and certainly my main concern at that moment was just trying to clear everyone.
“I apologised after the game to the referee in terms of me approaching him. I didn't realise you can't approach a referee at the full-time whistle.
“Now what I've been sent off for was not foul and abusive language or aggressive behaviour. I think it's very clear to everyone that wasn't the case.
“In fact I was in a bit of a calmer state while there were a million things going on in my head and I was trying to process a lot of things.
“Never once was I abusive, used abusive language towards him or was in any way aggressive. I was just trying to find out exactly what the situation was and trying to get some clarification on that.
“Now where I am at fault really is probably I should have waited and gone in after to get that clarification. I suppose I was a little bit too eager to really try and find out what that was and obviously approached the ref, which like I said I didn't realise I could do and he sent me off. So I'm disappointed, obviously very disappointed.
“I don't think my emotions step out of it by the letter of the law. But you can't approach a referee at the end of the game and for that, yeah, I've made a mistake there.”
Ward also oversaw Burnley’s goalless draw with Preston at Turf Moor last term, as well as the 1-0 defeat to Millwall – one of only two losses the Clarets suffered in the league last season.
Who is on VAR duty?
VAR is not in use during this round.
Jacob Graham and George Byrne will run the line, while Oliver Langford is fourth official.
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