Ferguson fumes at critics

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has accused Kenny Dalglish and Graham Taylor of having short memories as he vowed to launch a vigorous defence to a Football Association improper conduct charge later this month.

Ferguson is facing an extended touchline ban following comments about referee Martin Atkinson in the wake of his side's controversial Barclays Premier League defeat at Chelsea last week.

"I was disappointed with Graham Taylor, who wrote that I had to take 'the rough with the smooth'," Ferguson told the official match programme United Review ahead of the FA Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. "I think back to when he was England manager and was complaining to a linesman: 'The referee has got me the sack.' People have short memories."

He added: "Kenny Dalglish looked to be lecturing me in the papers about the need to respect referees, perhaps forgetting that not so long ago his players were tweeting critically all over the place about Howard Webb."

Ferguson was referring to the mock-up picture of World Cup final referee Webb in a Manchester United shirt that was posted by Ryan Babel in the aftermath of Liverpool's FA Cup third-round defeat at Old Trafford in January, which earned the Dutchman a £10,000 fine.

Taylor's comments meanwhile came during a qualifier for the 1994 World Cup when England lost to Holland in controversial circumstances and ended up being eliminated.