Red cards were the theme of the day as Derek Young and Kevin Holt were sent off in Queen of the South`s 2-2 draw at home to Stenhousemuir as clubs around the country backed the Show Racism the Red Card initiative.

The match was by no means a dirty affair despite Young and Holt being dismissed and manager Allan Johnston being sent to the stands.

Mark Durnan headed Queens in front inside the first two minutes before Derek Young saw red for a late tackle on the brink of half-time.  The home side started the second half like they started the first as Nicky Clark extended the lead before John Gemmell scored on 69 minutes.  Stenhousemuir were level just a minute later as Paul Burns brought down Bryan Hodge in the area to allow Brown Ferguson to slot in from the penalty spot.  

The match finished with real controversy, however, as Kevin Holt saw red for a late tackle on Gemmell before manager Allan Johnston was sent from the dugout.  It seemed that the referee was refusing to allow Queens captain Chris Higgins back onto the pitch after being treated for a cut which enraged Johnston further as his team were defending with only eight men on the field.

Allan Johnston: "I spoke to the ref and asked him why and he explained to me that [Chris Higgins] had to get checked before getting back on the pitch and if the linesman doesn`t have time to have a look at him then he has to wait til the referee stops the game."

On the game itself, Johnston saw it as two points dropped: "We`re disappointed not winning the game. In the second half we were down to ten men and we were still creating chances.  We`re disappointed not to defend the goals we gave away better."

When asked about the sendings off, Johnston was philosophical despite feelings of injustice: "Derek says he never meant to go in like he did.  It looked a bit reckless and I told him that at half-time.  In modern day football you can`t really tackle like that, with both feet off the ground.  It was disappointing losing Derek just before half-time.

"[On Holt`s red card] The big boy Gemmell said he never touched him.  Obviously it was a clumsy challenge but I don`t think the ref had to send him off.  You can`t really do anything about it now.  Obviously it`s disappointing to lose two players and if the referee saw the tackles again I don`t know if he would send them off."

Derek Young was disappointed to be shown the red card: "I was just stretching for the ball  I actually know him quite well and there was no way there was any malice in it.  A couple of people have said it just depends how it looks, from what angle the referee sees it.

"The reaction from their players was a massive part in it.  I thought at the very worst if it was mistimed it would have been a booking but the ref sent me off and there`s not much I can do about it.

"It`s looked like it was a vicious game from start to finish but it was anything but that.  The game`s done now so it doesn`t really matter what you say you`ve just got to deal with the consequences."

Young described the disappointment in the Queens dressing room: "Of course there is disappointment.  I think 10-15 minutes in the game should have been buried.  We created some good chances and scored a good goal and should have gone on to score two or three more.

"After what happened with myself being sent off and starting the second half the way we did: two-nil up and playing really well. Then to lose the goals the way we did, I don`t think they were really putting us under a lot of pressure in the box.  To lose the goals like we did is frustrating and that`s what`s annoying us in the dressing room."

Mark celebrates his goal