Ryan Valentine admitted his frustrations had got the better of him after his red card ultimately cost his side victory.

The former Everton youth team player, also dismissed at home to Hartlepool last season, was swiftly followed down the tunnel by teammate Barry Conlon in a bad-tempered last quarter of the game. And Valentine, Darlington's seventh red card victim of the season, conceded he played a part in gifting Scunthorpe a draw.

He'll be missing for three matches starting with the trip to Cambridge a week on Saturday and he said: "My red card was a turning point in the game because that let them back in it.

"And after that Baz was sent-off, so the lads held on well for a point.

"I was running at their defence and cut inside, Andrew Kelly came across and took me out. I looked across at the ref and I didn't think he'd given us the advantage.

"I got up and confronted their lad, I went to him and put my face towards him and he went down easily." Although Valentine and Conlon would find it hard to justify their actions, Butler made the most of their confrontations and didn't require much prompting to fall over.

Valentine said: "In my book, I wouldn't do it and I don't think any of the lads in our dressing room would either.

"A few of the lads have said that if we'd been in their position we would've been glad to see one of their players sent off but I don't think any of our team would go down like he did."

Scunthorpe manager Brian Laws defended his player, saying: "Conlon pushed Butler and followed in with his head.

"He has ended up with a big fat lip and, from the first red card, a swollen nose."

Hodgson was already looking a striker, and that search will be stepped up as Conlon will be missing for three matches.

Protocol at many clubs is to fine those shown the red card but that would perhaps be tough on players who are still waiting for their wages which were due last Friday. They've been promised payment out of Saturday's gate receipts but a disappointingly low crowd, the second lowest League gate of the season, will have done little to boost club coffers.

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