Referee Atkinson gets Jol's backing

Martin Jol, the Fulham manager, has praised the decision to appoint Martin Atkinson to a Premier League match this weekend following his controversial dismissal of Everton's Jack Rodwell a fortnight ago.

"He's a good referee and he proved that," Jol said. "If you are in the Premier League your quality is high." Fulham's trip to Stoke City tomorrow is Atkinson's first domestic match since Goodison Park.