Craig Pawson has been controversially appointed to take charge of Albion’s derby against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Pawson upset Seagulls chief Gus Poyet and angered fans by showing red cards to Romain Vincelot and Ashley Barnes in the opening 12 minutes against Burnley on his previous visit to The Amex last season.

The appointment will not go down well with Palace manager Ian Holloway either. He was sent-off by Pawson when in charge of Blackpool in a game against Birmingham in December 2011.

Pawson is highly rated by his superiors. He was handed his first Premier League fixture earlier this month after refereeing last season’s League Two play-off final.