SAINTS manager Russell Martin doubled down on his decision to snub the handshake of Millwall goalkeeper Matija Sarkic.

Eagle-eyed supporters spotted the boss rejecting the handshake of the 26 year old following Saturday's 2-1 defeat. 

Sarkic made two big saves to deny Joe Rothwell and Adam Armstrong equalisers in an otherwise disappointing second half for the home side. 

Martin suggests Sarkic, who is a Montenegro international, was timewasting at St Mary's as Saints lost a third in four league games. 

Speaking ahead of the trip to Liverpool, Martin addressed concerns and said: "I know there has been a thing about me not shaking his hand.

"I shook pretty much every Millwall hand but not him because he went down and pretended to be injured three times.

"I don’t have time for that. It’s not about being disrespectful, I didn’t want to shake that guy’s hand at the time because I feel for and am hurt for my team.

"I have no time for someone going down pretending to be injured three times.

"I’ve been talking about the two greatest managers in the game and you have to walk a line where you feel so protective of your team."

Martin added: "They do it incredibly well. I shook hands with pretty much every Millwall player I came in contact with.

"I refused to shake one hand because I don’t like the way he played the game. It’s not about disrespectful to a club or person, I don’t know the goalkeeper.

"Me and Joe Lumley nearly had a fight on the pitch and I ended up signing him and I love him so maybe I’ll end up signing the Millwall goalie at some point.

"There is a line and sometimes you’re going to step over it and at the time I felt really strongly that we didn’t get what we deserved.

"I give big credit to Neil Harris, I really like him as a guy and their backroom team are such good people - I want them to do well, not against us, but I want them to do well.

"At that point, I don’t know why I need to shake the guy’s hand after he frustrated me in the game.

"If I see him again or we play against him again, I wouldn’t have a problem but when it’s in that moment and you feel so strongly these things happen."