THE referee put in charge of Saturday’s League One clash with Peterborough United has sent off Ricardo Santos the last two times they have met.

Cleveland official Ross Joyce issued a red card to the Bolton captain at Port Vale last August, having previously sent him off at Morecambe the season before.

Ian Evatt said at the time that the decision felt “personal” but had no route to appeal as it has been a second yellow card.

“I think he is really upset and he is heartbroken. He feels it was the Morecambe red card last season, same referee, red card again this season,” he told The Bolton News.

“He feels it’s personal so we’ve got to manage him, makes sure he understands it’s not that and he’s just been on the rough side of things today.”

Joyce had also issued a red card to Santos in February 2022 for deliberate handball during a stormy game at Morecambe. The decision was later overturned by the Football Association.

The same referee also dismissed Bolton loanee Peter Kioso in the final minutes of a 3-3 draw at Carlisle United on Boxing Day 2020, also issuing Evatt with a yellow card for remonstrating with the fourth official.

Once the youngest referee in the EFL, Joyce has taken charge of five games in Leagues One and Two this season and issued 25 yellow cards, one of which led to the dismissal of Morecambe’s Farrend Rawson during a game against Harrogate.

Santos will be hoping to help Bolton back to winning ways against his former club Posh this weekend, having scored twice against them at London Road in a 5-0 hammering last season.

Meanwhile, Wanderers have confirmed the date of their rescheduled away game against Shrewsbury Town.

Ian Evatt’s side will now travel to the Croud Meadow Stadum on November 7 (7.45pm kick-off).

The original game was due to be played on September 9 but was postponed because of international call-ups.