RALPH Hasenhuttl insisted the 1-1 draw with Leeds United was a “tough game for the referee”, in response to claims for a foul during the build-up to the home side’s goal.

Before Raphinha’s cross fell to Jack Harrison, via Fraser Forster, to open the scoring at Elland Road, Armando Broja was brought down on the halfway line by Liam Cooper.

Referee Anthony Taylor adjudged there to be no foul on the Albanian, and the ball went out of play soon after to start a new phase of play.

James Ward-Prowse struck a stunning free-kick to level the scores in the second-half, and Hasenhuttl insisted his Saints side cannot complain about any potential foul.

“I think it was a tough game for the referee today because of a lot of fouls and a lot of intense duals,” Hasenhuttl insisted.

“Broja is quick and when the ball is past the defender, the only chance to stop him is with a body and then it’s up to the referee to decide if it’s a foul or not.

“He said no, we can’t complain, we have to defend. This is what we didn’t do in this moment and then we conceded a goal that normally we have a chance for us.”

He continued: “It’s a little bit annoying and disappointing but in the end, the good thing is at half-time we adapted a little bit to the few issues we had, we didn’t have a lot but the few issues we had.

“Especially with our six sometimes, a little bit too high opening up counter-attacks for them. Second half was much, much better and in the end we had bigger chances, we should win this game.”