McInnes ban is halved to two games

St JOHNSTONE manager Derek McInnes has had a four-match ban halved following an appeal to the Scottish Football Association. McInnes received the automatic suspension after being sent to the stand during his side’s 2-0 SPL defeat against Dundee United in April.

McInnes was dismissed for straying from his technical area as Saints argued that Johnny Russell’s opener was offside. Saints defender Steven Anderson had earlier been sent off. McInnes said after the match: “The fourth official said I crossed the technical area. The referee and the fourth official now accept all I was trying to do was defuse the situation. I was trying to get Michael Duberry away because he’s one booking away from a suspension.”

McInnes will sit in the stand for the SPL game against Motherwell on 17 September and visit of St Mirren in the League Cup.