FORMER Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has agreed with Russell Martin that his Saints side should have been awarded a crucial penalty.

He says Saints were denied a spot-kick for a "clear foul" on substitute Paul Onuachu during Saturday's 3-2 defeat at home to Leicester City.

While leading 2-1 but under pressure from the Foxes, Jordan Ayew sustained a shirt pull on the Nigerian while he attacked a cross in the Leicester box.

Onuachu stayed on his feet but neither referee Anthony Taylor nor the VAR officials awarded the foul, which could have seen Saints restore a two-goal lead.

Leicester then levelled minutes later through Jamie Vardy, with Ryan Fraser sent off for a shirt pull on the former England international. 

Martin said: "I think one's right on the goal line so it's a bit different but I think if Paul goes down it makes a big deal because it's a huge shirt pull.

"It's much bigger than Ryan Fraser's. But I don't know if they have looked at it and said no or if they haven't, I don't know what that process is."

Gallagher, who refereed in the Premier League for 15 years between 1992-2007, analysed the decision-making in the wake of the match.

"I thought it was a penalty. If you hold a player's shirt for five steps, which he does, that's sustained," Gallagher said.

"They were of the opinion the goalkeeper would have got the ball anyhow," Gallagher continued, attempting to explain the decision made. 

During the match, Saints legend Matt Le Tissier posted on X: "Anthony Taylor has done everything in his powers to get Leicester back in this game."

However, he added: "Still not learning to have a man on the edge of the box at corners is shocking. Did we not learn from the Ipswich game?"