46% win rate for Tottenham under referee for Leeds fixture, yellow card record a bit of a concern

Roberto De Zerbi would worry after ‘this’ 39yo has been confirmed as the referee for crucial clash against Leeds United.

Jarred Gillett has been confirmed as the referee for Monday evening’s crucial Premier League clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Australian’s appointment provides an unwanted additional concern for Roberto De Zerbi ahead of one of the most important fixtures in the club’s recent history.

Gillett, 39, has taken charge of 15 Tottenham matches across his career, with Spurs winning seven, drawing none and losing eight of those fixtures, a record that amounts to a 46 per cent win rate and offers little comfort to a side desperately seeking points in a survival battle. Most recently, the Select Group official oversaw Tottenham’s home defeat to West Ham in January, a result that contributed significantly to the crisis that has defined the second half of the club’s season.

For Leeds, Gillett’s appointment is rather more familiar territory. This will be the sixth fixture involving the Yorkshire club that the Australian has refereed this season alone, most recently taking charge of their FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley. His overall record with the Whites stands at three wins and four draws from ten matches, a considerably more favourable return than Tottenham’s numbers suggest.

Tottenham Hotspur’s disciplinary record under Jarred Gillett could be a problem

There are some mitigating factors worth considering. Gillett’s disciplinary record this season shows a degree of leniency, averaging 3.55 yellow cards per game with a fouls per tackle ratio of 0.54 according to WhoScored. However, his historical record specifically with Tottenham tells a different story, with Spurs averaging 2.5 yellow cards per game in matches he has overseen. Given that Tottenham are already third in the Premier League for fouls per game this season at 11.9 per match, the combination of their own indiscipline and a referee who appears historically stricter with them specifically is a concern De Zerbi will be acutely aware of.

VAR Craig Pawson will operate from Stockley Park, with Nick Hopton as additional VAR, Neil Davies and Steven Meredith as assistant referees, and Thomas Kirk as fourth official.

The broader context makes the referee appointment feel almost secondary. Tottenham go into Monday’s match knowing West Ham’s result against Arsenal will have already been played, meaning De Zerbi’s side will know exactly what they need. After the performance at Villa Park, there is genuine belief in the camp that this squad is capable of delivering. Gillett’s record is an inconvenience. The three points are everything.