DAVID CLARKSON will miss Saturday’s Premierleague opener against Celtic after being sent off at Palmerston. The visiting striker was shown a straight red card after 20 minutes following a clash with Garry Wood, who slumped to the turf clutching his face.

Terry Butcher, the Motherwell manager, said: “David says he’s done nothing wrong and the referee has got it totally wrong. It ruined the game and we’d like to appeal against it before Saturday.”

Motherwell had been in control of an uneventful game until then, but were forced to regroup with Jim Paterson as a lone striker following Jim Hamilton’s earlier withdrawal through injury. Just four minutes after being given a numerical advantage, Queen of the South took the lead through David McNiven, who slotted home after being released by John O’Neill. Gordon Marshall was kept busy in goal from then on, making several crucial saves as Motherwell struggled to contain their lower-league opponents, and never looked likely to produce an equaliser.

Queens began their late scoring spree 16 minutes from time, when Wood netted a close-range tap-in after Marshall had fumbled Derek Lyle’s free kick. McNiven headed home the third at the far post after an excellent weaving run down the left by Brian McLaughlin and Wood then doubled his tally from a Lyle corner.

Butcher also revealed that defender David Partridge could be on his way to Bristol City, saying: “There are ongoing negotiations.”

STAR MAN: Stephen Payne (Queen of the South)

Player ratings: Queen of the South: Barnard 5; Wood 6, Carr 6, Reid 5, English 5; Payne 7, Lovell 6, McColligan 6, Bowey 7; O’Neil 7, McNiven 7

Motherwell: Marshall 6; Quinn 5, Craigan 6, Kinniburgh 5, Hammell 5; Fagan 5, O’Donnell 6, Leitch 6, Paterson 6; Hamilton 4, Clarkson 4

Scorers: Queen of the South: McNiven 24, 77, Wood 74, 80

Sent off: Clarkson 20

Referee: C Boyle

Attendance: 1,283

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