Referees have a tough job but you couldn't help but walk away from Saints' match on Saturday with a feeling of disappointment.

Disappointment in that you knew one incorrect decision was going to take away from an entertaining game that had three brilliant goals, a goalline clearance and a piece of world class goalkeeping.

There's no getting away from the fact that David Elleray made an error when he awarded Middlesbrough a late penalty after adjudging Paul Telfer had tripped Luke Wilkshire in the box.

Telfer got a bit of the ball and therefore it was not a penalty.

Gordon Strachan was right to mention one of my great gripes - why does it always have to be a dive or a penalty?

It's a contact sport, sometimes players just tangle, run into each or fall over.

But that aside, Massimo Maccarone duly sent Antti Niemi the wrong way and earned Boro a point when it looked as though Saints would take all three.

But, at the end of the day, controversial decisions are what make football so delicious.

There's no point stopping the game for television replays to decide on everything.

You may rule out mistakes during the game but football is all about passion and if there's one past-time every fan enjoys, it's moaning about referees.

Imagine football without it - I don't want to.

It's sanitised, boring and stale, not passionate, emotional and irrational as everybody loves it.

And sometimes mistakes are made - by referees, players and managers.

It's frustrating, but it's all part of the game.

Rant over.

The decision was wrong, yes, but we're in danger of getting caught in the trap of just discussing that one moment.

Instead, let's look at the three goals previous to that.

James Beattie gave Saints the lead five minutes before half-time with a beautiful volley.

Fabrice Fernandes crossed from the right, Chris Marsden hooked the ball back and Beattie watched it fall on to his left boot and rifled his volley into the far corner from 12 yards.

His second, and 16th of the season, was just as good.

Tony Vidmar, under no pressure from any Saints players, produced a pass that is the stuff of nightmares. It was awful.

Beattie gladly intercepted it, took a touch and let fly into Mark Schwarzer's top corner from 20 yards - the Boro keeper didn't even have time to move before it was past him.

Saints had controlled much of the match up until that point and looked dangerous whenever Fernandes got the ball.

He was given plenty of time and space on the right wing, with Geremi playing just in front of Boro's back four blocking Southampton's attacks from the centre but leaving them exposed on the flanks.

Fernandes created several openings for Saints and almost scored himself when he struck the post in the first half and Jo Tessem and the sliding Beattie couldn't quite convert the rebound.

But in amongst all that Saints were saved from falling behind by the brilliance of Niemi, whose one-handed reaction save from Szilard Nemeth's close range shot was one of the finest you'll see all season.

And, when Niemi was beaten by Jonathan Greening's shot, Matt Oakley was there to clear off the line.

As if to prove that refereeing is all swings and roundabouts, Boro had a perfectly good goal incorrectly disallowed for offside two minutes after Beattie had given Saints the lead.

Alen Boksic found Joseph Desire Job who was played onside by Telfer and fired home - however, the assistant had raised his flag and it didn't count.

Steve McClaren made several bold substitutions to try and rectify the situation and it worked with both his side's goals coming from the bench.

Noel Whelan started off the comeback on 73 minutes when he controlled and launched a half-volley which Niemi was unable to back-peddle quick enough to keep out.

Saints had been keeping possession after they hit their second and trying to shut the game down, but suddenly they were on the back foot.

Then, on 81 minutes, came the penalty which meant both sides remained unbeaten at home this season.

But however disappointed they may be right now, Saints should not be disheartened by this result.

It's another good point for them and it's important they stretch their unbeaten run to 11 games next week against Liverpool, who haven't won for 11.