Sutton sticks up for St Mirren's Miranda after his sending-off

MOTHERWELL striker John Sutton jumped to the defence of St Mirren star Franco Miranda after his sending off in the sides' meeting at Fir Park.

Miranda saw red 20 minutes before the end of Saints' 2-1 Clydesdale Bank Premier League defeat yesterday after the assistant referee signalled he had used an elbow in a tussle with Sutton.

However, Sutton, who was on the scoresheet against his former side, said: "I didn't think by any means that it was a red card.

It wasn't anywhere near the face and I don't think there was any harm intended." Sutton scored early in the second half to cancel out Billy Mehmet's opener for St Mirren, with midfielder Bob Malcolm then netting Motherwell's winner just after the hour.

Elsewhere, Inverness CT came from behind to earn a 3-1 win over visitors Kilmarnock. Conor Sammon put the away side ahead but Phil McGuire equalised before a controversial Andy Barrowman penalty put Inverness in front with the Killie players claiming that the striker had conned the referee into awarding the spot-kick. Black then headed a third goal – his first of the season – to secure his side their first home win of this campaign.