Southend United's red-carded duo, Martin Carruthers and Mark Tinkler, pleaded their innocence after Saturday's 2-1 Third Division defeat at Barnet.

Birmingham referee Trevor Parkes gave Carruthers his marching orders, along with Barnet skipper Greg Heald, after a confrontation between the two players sparked a 15-man pitch brawl.

Heald was far from happy with Carruthers, following the Southend striker's decision to congratulate his opponent with a pat on the head, after the Barnet skipper had levelled the scores at Underhill with an own-goal.

Mark Arber had earlier put Barnet in front and another howler from Southend keeper Mark Prudhoe handed the Bees all three points, before Tinkler received his marching orders for a second yellow card.

"I've never been sent-off or even suspended before and I'm absolutely gutted," said Carruthers, who trudged off despondently after 16 minutes, chased by Heald.

"I never struck Greg, all I did was put my arms up to protect myself and I was shocked when the referee showed me the red card."

Carruthers, Blues' joint top-scorer with nine-goals, described the incident, which fired an all-out pitch punch-up that continued in the players' tunnel as "light-hearted banter".

"It was just a bit of fun and I couldn't believe the angry reaction I got," said the 28-year-old hitman.

"The whole incident was just a bit of tongue-in-cheek banter and all I did was bend down and tap Greg on the head.

"But he completely flipped out, which knocked me right back as I played with Greg at Peterborough United and we always got on well.

"He even continued having a go at me in the players' tunnel after we got sent-off, nearly ripping the shirt off my back, but some of the other lads calmed it down."

Shrimpers midfielder Tinkler, handed an early bath for two bookings, also felt harshly treated.

The ex-Leeds United star was shown a yellow card in the first-half and received his marching orders 19 minutes from time for a crunching challenge on Barnet wideman Darren Currie.

"I was amazed when the referee sent me off, but Currie made a complete meal of things and didn't help me much," said Tinkler.

"The days are gone when you can get away with making two or three borderline challenges in a game, but I didn't feel that I warranted either booking.

"I thought the ref had a poor match and didn't give us much. He even joked with me about having a beer in the bar after the game - minutes before he had me off."

Southend boss Alan Little stormed angrily out of Underhill and refused to comment on his side's latest reverse, which leaves them in 15th place - eight points adrift of the promotion play-offs.

However, his right-hand man Mick Gooding found time to lash-out at referee Mr Parks, before boarding yet another gloomy team coach.

"He's sent-off Martin Carruthers for doing nothing more than protecting himself," blasted Gooding.

"I've asked him to look at the match video and reconsider his actions, but I doubt he will because he's just in love with himself."

Early bath - Southend physio John Gowens leads striker Martin Carruthers away after he received his marching orders at Underhill

Picture: DAVE MONTIER

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