FORMER Saints striker Alan Shearer admitted he was "slightly surprised" by the side's penalty decision in their 3-0 defeat to Manchester United.

The St Mary's outfit had been the better team for 30 minutes against the Red Devils when Tyler Dibling was felled by Diogo Dalot inside the box.

Cameron Archer took the first penalty of his career, while Ben Brereton Diaz watched on despite boasting a 100 per cent spot-kick record.

Andre Onana saved the 22 year old's effort, with United going two goals ahead inside the next 10 minutes of the match before half-time. 

Speaking on BBC One's Match of the Day, Shearer said: "I was slightly surprised because Ben Brereton Diaz has taken nine pens and scored nine times.

"Cameron Archer hasn’t taken a penalty at all, that was his first one and I suspect he won’t be on the next if and when they get one.

"There is no doubt about what the manager said, that the attitude and the atmosphere changed after the miss, so it was a big moment."

Saints boss Russell Martin admitted it was the "wrong decision" when he debriefed the event speaking to media after the match.

However, he insisted Archer had been practicing penalties with success during the international break - and hoped he would be off the mark for the club.

He said: "At some point, he's a number nine and going to want to take penalties - and he felt really confident to take one and Ben was happy for that as well.

"It is one of those things, if he scores, he's off and away. But he didn't, so of course, it's going to get questioned."