Carlisle United's bid to end their wretched run of form will this weekend bring them back into contact with a referee who was at the heart of one of last season's most controversial games.

Thomas Parsons will be the man in the middle for Saturday's trip to Bristol Rovers.

The official was in charge of last season's 3-2 home defeat to Leyton Orient which proved a stormy encounter at Brunton Park in October 2022.

Parsons came in for criticism over a number of decisions, with United denied what looked a clear penalty for handball, before Orient scored a winning goal which appeared clearly offside.

The game also saw United’s Ryan Edmondson shown a straight red card for raising his hands to Os captain Darren Pratley.

The ref and his fellow officials were given a stormy send-off by Blues fans that day, with United boss Paul Simpson going on to describe some of the decision-making as "frightening".

Parsons has since refereed United again in last April's 2-2 home clash with Stockport County, when his performance also came in for criticism.