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Ferguson row ref gets Spartak Moscow clash

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Aiden McGeady Celtic newsControversial referee Martin Atkinson will be in charge of today’s Spartak Moscow-Ajax Europa League tie.

Atkinson is at the centre of a storm in the Premiership after Alex Ferguson was given a five match touchline ban for criticising the referee after Chelsea’s recent win over Manchester United.

After the match Ferguson told MUTV: “You want a fair referee, or a strong referee anyway – and we didn’t get that. I must say, when I saw who the referee was I feared it.”

Spartak have their own problems to deal with if they are to progress in the Europa League depite winning 1-0 last week in the Amsterdam ArenA.

A 4-0 defeat away to Rostov in their opening league match on Monday has put Spartak on the back foot and turned the spotlight onto Aiden McGeady’s side.

Boss ValerI Karpin admitted that his side’s inconsistent form has caused concern, the Spartak boss said: “Several players in the lineup didn’t play in Rostov so the defeat shouldn’t have an effect on them.”

Looking back at the first leg with Ajax he added: “They not only looked nervous at the start, which would be nothing unusual, but for the whole first half. It is not as if we were playing Chelsea – Ajax have a good name in Europe but I think their players are even younger than ours.”

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Putting a bet on the 90 minute outcome of these matches is always risky, betting on who qualifies is much safer with Spartak priced at 4/11 to go through and Ajax at 2/1.

The two remaining English sides in the Europa League have got it tough to progress tonight after losing in the first leg.

Manchester City kick off at 6pm at home to Dinamo Kiev hoping to turn around a 2-0 defeat from last week.

Roberto Mancini’s side have found goals difficult to come by recently and are priced at 2/1 to go through with the visitors at 4/11 to make the last eight.

At Anfield Kenny Dalglish faces his toughest test since returning as Liverpool manager.

Braga are a well disciplined side and will work hard to dend last week’s 1-0 win over Dalglish’s side.

Liverpool just edge it with the bookies at 8/11 to go through with Braga certain to attract backing at even money.

One match that punters should steet clear of is the PSG-Benfica match which will be refereed by Willie Collum.

Benfica won the first match 2-1 but with eagle-eyed Collum in charge the Eagles of Lisbon will be aware that anything is possible tonight in the French capital.

Bitter Butcher slams Izaguirre.

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