Southend United boss Alan Little confirmed today that Blues will fight to achieve justice for red-carded striker Martin Carruthers.

Referee Trevor Parkes ordered Carruthers and Barnet skipper Greg Heald off the pitch during Southend's 2-1 defeat at Underhill on Saturday for violent conduct.

Both teams waded into a full-scale pitch brawl, which continued in the players' tunnel, after Carruthers mockingly congratulated Heald for a spectacularly diving headed own-goal in Blues' favour.

But Little said the Seasiders would ask the Birmingham official, who also dismissed Southend midfielder Mark Tinkler for two bookings at Underhill, to think again.

"I've requested a copy of the match video from Barnet so I can look at the incident again for myself, but all of my touchline staff claim Martin was innocent," said the Third Division club's chief.

"Martin is facing a three-match ban, which would be a big blow to us and the lad, and we will do everything in our power to get the referee's decision overturned."

Little is currently awaiting the referee's report detailing the controversial proceedings at Underhill, after which Blues have three days to ask Mr Parkes to reconsider his actions and quash Carruthers' punishment.

However, the Shrimpers' manager admitted he isn't over confident of gaining a reprieve for his nine-goal front-runner.

"As far as we're concerned Martin didn't throw any punches and should have received no more than a yellow-card for ungentlemanly conduct," added Little.

"But the referee isn't contactable privately or personally and all we can do is ask the Football Association to get Mr Parkes to watch a video of the game and reconsider his actions.

"Although, I'm not hopeful of gaining a reprieve for Martin as I tried to do the same thing for one of my players at York last year, but didn't have any joy."

Little, who stormed out of Underhill without making a comment, also explained his half-time substitution of veteran goalkeeper Mark Prudhoe at Barnet.

Fans' favourite Mel Capleton took over between the sticks for the second-half, with poor Prudhoe left contemplating another unconvincing display on the bench.

"I did exactly the same for Mark as I did for Mel after our recent 2-2 draw at York City," said Little.

"After the York game Mel needed a rest, which I gave him, and I decided to take Mark off at Underhill for the same reasons.

"We had conceded two bad goals, with Mark suffering a torrid time, so I made the change during the interval."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.