Southend United boss Alan Little today praised referee Trevor Parkes for handing Blues striker Martin Carruthers a reprieve.

The Birmingham official gave the 28-year-old hitman his marching orders for violent conduct during the recent 2-1 defeat at Barnet, following an off-the-ball altercation with Bees skipper Greg Heald.

However, Carruthers pleaded his innocence and Southend chief Little approached the Football Association to ask Mr Parkes if he would reconsider his original decision and scrap the red card.

"The referee agreed to take another look at the video and has been big enough to admit he made a mistake," said Little.

"Mr Parkes has reduced the offence from a dismissal, which carried a three-match ban, to a yellow card for ungentlemanly conduct.

"Unfortunately, though, Martin will still miss our game at Mansfield Town on Saturday because he already has four bookings and this additional yellow card takes him into a one-match suspension."

Little, who has failed to convince referees to overturn rulings in the past, said Mr Parkes' change of heart was a pleasant surprise.

"Martin claimed he hadn't thrown any punches at Underhill, but I didn't hold out much hope of having his red card quashed," said Little.

"But I'm delighted to say on this occasion that common sense has prevailed and the match official has agreed with our view point of the incident.

"Everybody makes mistakes and I think it is good news for football when referees can admit they are the same as everyone else."

Carruthers, Blues' top scorer with ten goals, was also relieved by the outcome. "I'm over the moon by this ruling as I'd already accepted that I faced a lengthy ban," he said.

"However, I'm disappointed to be missing the game at Mansfield as I'm from nearby Nottingham and was looking forward to scoring a goal at Fieldmill.

"But I'm only out for one game, which shouldn't affect my fitness levels too badly, and it could have been a lot worse."

Little also thanked former Blues keeper Simon Royce for offering his services to the Shrimpers.

The Charlton Athletic custodian, who still lives in Hockley, offered to return to Roots Hall on loan following a series of well-documented errors from the Seasiders' current first choice shot-stoppers Mel Capleton and Mark Prudhoe.

"It's always nice to know that a player of Simon's quality is willing to come back and do his old club a favour," Little added.

"But a new goalkeeper isn't one of my priorities at present, although I will bear in mind Simon's interest in case I need him in the future."

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