Meet The Ref - Latics v MK Dons

Latics are back at the Brick on Wednesday, MK Dons provide the opposition in a League One clash, London based official, Paul Howard will take charge of the game.

This is Howard’s 7^th season in the Football League following two seasons in the National League.

Previous

Paul Howard has taken charge of five Latics games previously, and we have yet to win a game with him in charge.

The first two games came during the administration season a 1:1 draw away at Wimbledon and a 1:2 home defeat to Oxford, the 3^rd came the following season, January 2022, Howard was in charge of our goalless draw away at Cheltenham. 

Howard took charge of another goalless draw, this time against Port Vale in April 2024, Liam Shaw and Charlie Kellman picking up bookings. His last Latics game was January last season, a two-nil defeat away at Wycombe, Howard awarding an outrageous penalty to the home side after just one minute of play, that set the tone for the rest of the game.

Paul Howard last took charge of an MK Dons game last season, their 3^rd round FA Cup defeat to Oxford United at Stadium MK, Oxford winning 4:5 on penalties following a 1:1 draw.

  Paul Howard’s Latics Games

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
27 Jan 2026	League One	Wycombe 2:0 Latics	0
06 Apr 2024	League One	Latics 0:0 Port Vale	2Y
29 Jan 2022	League One	Cheltenham 0:0 Latics	2Y
16 Mar 2021	League One	AFC Wimbledon 1:1 Latics	0
21 Nov 2020	League One	Latics 1:2 Oxford United	2Y

 

Paul Howard Card Watch 2026/27

Games – 3

Yellows – 11

Reds – 0

Penalty Awards – 1

Wigan Athletic v MK Dons
Referee – Paul Howard
Assistants – Matt Jones and Steve Durnall
Fourth Official – Joe Simpson

Grab a listen to the latest PWU Latics podcast featuring a preview of the MK Dons game.