THE referee who will take charge of Saints’ crunch game with Coventry this weekend has dished out 18 yellow cards and three red ones in his last five matches.

Anthony Taylor has sent off three Premier League players in recent weeks, the latest being Sunderland’s Craig Gardner at Aston Villa last weekend.

Prior to that, Taylor had dismissed Liverpool keeper Doni during a dramatic 3-2 win at Blackburn which also featured nine bookings.

Taylor also sent off Wolves’ Ronald Zubar when they lost 5-0 at home to Manchester United recently.

The match official’s first game of the current season was a Championship game featuring Leeds and Middlesbrough last August, and he issued three red cards in that one.

Leeds were reduced to nine man after Jon Howson and Max Gradel were sent off, while Boro’s Tony McMahon also saw red.

In 31 games this season, Taylor has only twice kept all his cards in his pocket.

The first occasion was the only time he has refereed a Saints game – in the 1-1 draw at Burnley.