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By David Anderson

Lee Mason has been handed the toughest job of his career – ­refereeing Wednesday’s Chelsea v Manchester United clash at Stamford Bridge.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson jokingly said after Sunday’s contentious league match between the two sides, “Good luck to the referee”.

And Mason will certainly need it as he takes charge of the Halloween night clash of the giants as United face Chelsea in the fourth round of the Capital One Cup.

It comes just three days after the highly-charged battle that resulted in two red cards, a ­controversial winner by Javier Hernandez, who came back from an offside position to hit home, and accusations levelled at ref Mark Clattenburg.

The topsy-turvy game – which United won 3-2 – saw Mark Clattenburg send off Chelsea stars Branislav Ivanovic and Fernando Torres.

But Ferguson may not feel so lighthearted when he hears Mason will be in charge.

The United boss still ­remembers the ref’s controversial call to allow Birmingham’s late league ­equaliser at St Andrew’s in December 2010, despite Nikola Zigic’s handball in the build-up and goal-scorer Lee Bowyer being offside.

Mason did, however, award United a debatable penalty against QPR at Old Trafford in April, when Ashley Young dived. He also sent off Rangers star Shaun Derry for the ­challenge.

However, the eagle-eyed Scot will also have noted Mason’s failure to disallow a crucial Torres goal against Reading for offside in the Blues’ 4-2 win in August.

That victory is one of six in succession Chelsea have enjoyed over the last two seasons when Mason has ­refereed them.

Wednesday’s cup tie will be Mason’s seventh game of the season and he has yet to get out his red card, although he has produced 26 yellows.

That will relieve Roberto Di Matteo after Clattenburg’s double sending-off on Sunday, and Mason only dismissed three players last season.

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