SAINTS manager Gordon Strachan has apologised to Chris Marsden for substituting him so early into the Premiership defeat by Middlesbrough.

Strachan hauled Marsden off six minutes before half-time, just after the midfielder had been cautioned.

But the St Mary's chief has confessed: "I should have trusted him more than I did."

FA Cup final skipper Marsden was replaced by Neil McCann after 39 minutes of the game - Saints' first defeat of the season.

The switch came just three minutes after Marsden had been involved in a fracas with Boro's on-loan defender Danny Mills.

From where Strachan was standing in the home dug-out, it initially appeared Marsden retaliated with a punch after being pushed in the back by Mills following a heavy challenge on visiting keeper Mark Schwarzer.

But TV evidence later revealed that Marsden merely put his hands into the air and was nowhere near making contact with the Boro player.

Referee Barry Knight cautioned Marsden for the foul on Schwarzer, then Strachan swiftly made the switch in midfield.

However, the Saints boss now reckons: "I should have given Marsden the benefit of the doubt. He is a vastly experienced player, and I should have at least waited the extra six minutes until half time before making the substitution.

"The fact was he had just been booked, and I did not want him to do anything else that might have got him sent off.

"It is difficult to know how a referee might react if there was another incident before the break.

"But in hindsight I was wrong to take him off at that point, I should have trusted him more and let him explain at half time what happened and how he felt."

Despite being substituted in his previous three games of the season, the Daily Echo understands Martsden has been reassured by Strachan that he still has a key part to play in the club's future.