Queen of the South boss visits referee after Stirling Albion draw

Frustrated Queens manager Marvin Bartley revealed how he took the unusual step of confronting the referee over several controversial decisions after the home clash with Stirling Albion.

The seething South boss asked to meet match official Scott Lambie, which is a request permitted under SPFL rules, but can be declined.

Queens were twice ahead in the League One encounter only for Binos to bounce back and level in the last minute with Dale Carrick forcing the ball over the line following a hotly disputed incident.

Bartley felt there were several contentious decisions against his side including a penalty, which Queens keeper Harry Stone saved, when contact appeared to be made outside the box, then a foul on defender Paul McKay in the lead up to Binos’ second goal.

Bartley said of the draw: “It’s obviously bitterly disappointing.

“I just watched it back there again. We have to deal with it. It shouldn’t even make it past the front post as we have to come and head the ball. We missed that. Nobody anticipates that we’re going to miss it, from a defensive point of view, you have to expect it.

“We missed the ball and then Carrick gets inside and manages to put the ball in the back of the net.”

He then disclosed: “I’ve just gone and seen the referee about that (second goal).

“He says that their centre forward was trying to play the ball and our defender got to the ball first, which is even more alarming because Paul (McKay) doesn’t actually head the ball, he gets shoved out of the way and then their player flicks it on.

“The assistant referee on the dugout side says (that) for him there were no arms and there was no foul and says the same thing that our defender got a head on it, which he clearly doesn’t,