BRENDAN Rodgers responded “if the centre-half doesn’t make a mistake there is no drama” after Ralph Hasenhuttl revealed Saints asked Leicester to gift an equaliser.

The Saints bench asked the Foxes to let the visitors run and score after James Maddison opened soon after the half-time break.

During the eventual 4-1 defeat, referee Jon Moss had stopped play for an injury while Saints were on the ball, but gave the drop ball back to the Foxes in error.

Leicester then attacked immediately and scored after Lyanco errors at the back let them in from a long-ball forward.

Hasenhuttl says Saints asked Leicester to allow the concession of a goal in the interest of sportsmanship, but that did not transpire.

Rodgers was asked for his view on Hasenhuttl’s comments, and responded: "It was a lack of clarity on what actually happened. Was it a bounce-ball, was it a free-kick to us?

"The ball was obviously bounced and we played it back to Kasper (Schmeichel). If the centre-half doesn't make a mistake there is no drama, he heads it back and Southampton has the ball.

"But he doesn’t. Then I think if there is any issue Jon Moss will blow up, but pretty soon after he points to the centre-sport.

"Clearly the Southampton players are unhappy. I understand the frustration, and they will be disappointed they didn’t defend it better, but all we can do is play to the whistle."

Asked why his side did not accept the request from the Saints bench, Rodgers added: “Only because of the side when where we speak to the fourth official, I called some of the players over to see what Jon Moss was saying.

"Jon Moss said it was a goal and it was a fair goal. It is disappointing for Ralph, there was a bit of confusion but we scored and went on to score another three goals."

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