Alan Wiley from Burntwood in Staffordshire takes charge of our game with Bolton Wanderers this afternoon at St James Park.

Wiley officiated us 5 times last season, one of which was our 3-1 win over Wanderers in the corresponding fixture in March, with goals from Nobby Solano, Alan Shearer and Shola Ameobi. He also took charge of our 2-1 win at Middlesbrough, home 1-1 draws against Villa and Fulham, and our 1-0 defeat at Craven Cottage.

Our record with him is pretty good - we have lost just 4 of the 24 Newcastle games he has refereed, winning 12 and drawing 8. He has also awarded us 7 penalties across those games, and given just 2 against us.

Wiley took charge of Bolton’s 1-1 draw at Fulham in August, with each side’s goal being a penalty, Fulham’s coming in added time.