MATT Donohue will take charge of Cherries’ Easter Monday clash with Coventry – with the match official’s last game referring the Dorset club ending in controversy.

Cherries boss Scott Parker and stalwart Adam Smith were both given marching orders when Donohue oversaw the promotion contenders’ 2-1 defeat away at Preston North End in March.

Parker and Smith had been enraged over a perceived foul on Philip Billing in the build-up to Emil Riis’ late winner, with Parker serving a one-match ban and paying a fine for abusive language.

In the two games this season Cherries have been refereed by Donohue, they have lost both – with Hull defeating Cherries 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium in January.

Across the two games, Donohue produced nine yellow cards and two reds. So far this campaign, Donohue has issued 120 cautions and shown nine red cards in 29 fixtures.

Affiliated with the Manchester FA, Southend-born Donohue will take charge of Stoke’s match with Bristol City this Friday.

Donohue was promoted to Championship games ahead of the 2019/20 season, taking charge of Cherries 1-1 draw away at Middlesbrough in September 2020, and then the December win over Wycombe Wanderers at the Vitality Stadium.

The referee has quickly risen through the ranks, after being promoted to the Select Group 2 list of officials after just one season on the EFL circuit.