Matthew Donohue will take charge of Ipswich Town’s Championship trip to West Bromwich Albion this weekend, with the referee’s history involving both sides adding an extra layer of intrigue to a crucial fixture at the Hawthorns.
The Greater Manchester official is no stranger to either club, and his appointment has already sparked interest among supporters given his mixed track record in games involving the Blues.
Ipswich head into the match knowing Donohue has already overseen three of their fixtures this season — and none have gone their way.
Ipswich’s uneven history with Donohue
Town’s most recent encounter with Donohue came in November 2025, when they suffered a 2-1 defeat away at Oxford United. That followed earlier losses at Preston North End and Middlesbrough, with both games featuring pivotal moments involving penalties.
At Deepdale, Donohue awarded Preston a decisive spot-kick that Milutin Osmajic converted. Later in the campaign at the Riverside, Ipswich were given their own penalty opportunity, but George Hirst was unable to convert in a 2-1 defeat.
That pattern of fine margins has become something of a theme in Ipswich’s matches under his officiating.
Across seven previous Ipswich games, Donohue has overseen a mixed record that includes just two wins — a 3-0 victory over Hull City and an FA Cup success against AFC Wimbledon — alongside several narrow defeats and draws.
West Brom also familiar with Donohue
West Brom are equally well acquainted with Saturday’s referee, with Donohue having taken charge of nine of their matches in the past.
His most recent Baggies fixture saw them fall to a 3-0 defeat at Portsmouth earlier this season, while his last visit to the Hawthorns ended in a 2-0 win over Sheffield United.
Overall, West Brom’s record under Donohue stands at five wins, five draws and four defeats from 14 matches — highlighting a fairly balanced history.
Busy season for Donohue
Donohue arrives at the Hawthorns in the middle of a demanding campaign, having already officiated 29 matches across all competitions in 2025/26.
He has shown 121 yellow cards and three red cards so far this season, along with awarding nine penalties — underlining his willingness to take control in high-intensity fixtures.
His most recent assignment came in midweek, when he oversaw Oxford United’s 1-0 defeat to Wrexham in the Championship.
Experienced officials set for Hawthorns duty
Donohue will be assisted by Andrew Fox and Mark Dwyer, with Dean Whitestone acting as fourth official for the lunchtime clash.
While referees rarely dominate pre-match discussion, Ipswich fans will be hoping this encounter is defined more by performance on the pitch than key decisions from the officials — especially given how tight the Championship promotion race is becoming.
With both sides chasing crucial points for very different reasons, every moment could matter, and Ipswich will be keen to ensure this is one match where the referee remains a background figure rather than a headline act.
