Wembley referee appointment lucky for Walsall?
Walsall have been handed a potential lucky omen for the first ever Wembley appearance after Hertfordshire's Mick Russell was appointed as referee.
Russell's last Saddlers game was their 1-0 win over Wolves at Molineux last season and he will take charge of their Johnstone's Paint Trophy final against Bristol City on March 22.
Dean Smith's side won the League One game against their local rivals in September 2013 thanks to Andy Butler's 69th-minute winner with Russell booking two Wolves players and Walsall's Sam Mantom.
Russell's last Bristol City game came a few weeks earlier as the Robins drew 1-1 at Gillingham.
Chris Powell and Richard Wigglesworth have been named as assistant referees for the final while Mark Haywood will be on fourth official duty and Phil Dermott is the reserve assistant referee.
Russell made his Football League debut in 2004 when he took charge of Scunthorpe United versus Rochdale in League Two.
He has refereed once in this season's Johnstone's Paint Trophy, taking charge of Coventry City's 1-0 win at Wycombe Wanderers in round one.
He turned out at Wembley last season as fourth official for last the League One Play-Off Final between Leyton Orient and Rotherham United.
