Jo Tessem believes Saints were robbed their chance against Manchester United after being denied what looked a clear penalty.

They were trailing 2-0 when the Norwegian got in behind the United defence on 32 minutes and looked sure to finish off a Chris Marsden cross and pull Saints back into the game.

But a desperate challenge from United skipper Roy Keane bundled Tessem to the floor just as he was about to shoot.

To the fury of the Saints' team as well as more than 30,000 fans, referee Phil Dowd waved play-on as United clung on to what proved a crucial two-goal cushion.

Tessem was in no doubt he would have scored and aded: "For me it was a clear penalty.

"The ball went past everyone, I had got in front of their defenders and he just blocked my foot from behind.

"He didn't get the ball and it meant I couldn't get it.

"I'm sure I would have scored - I was just going to put the ball in the net. - and it was a goal we needed.

"When you are 2-0 down, you are struggling a bit, so we knew how important it was to score at that stage.

"At 2-1, it is a different game. We'd have been more relaxed and they'd have been the tense ones.

"One goal for us and maybe it would have been a different result. It was very frustrating that we didn't get the penalty."

Tessem felt Saints didn't deserve to be 2-0 down so quickly, but was still full of praise for United's performance. He said: "We had played some brilliant football and yet we were 2-0 down. It felt strange.

"I thought we gave them a lot of trouble but we ran out of ideas because we could not get that first goal.

"Maybe we didn't quite create the big opportunities. We mainly only got half-chances.

"We were in the game in the first half and just needed to score."

Tessem added: "They have a good team and were better in the second half - they have players who can always score.

"Later on, they controlled the game.

"We really wanted to win and tried hard but that is how football can be."

Saints boss Gordon Strachan agreed that the challenge on Tessem looked a blatant penalty.

He said: "I've seen the replay and we think he has been barged.

"I don't think Jo would have dived when he had a clear chance.

"But one good thing came out of it. For ten minutes after the referee gave us everything, free-kicks throw-ins and corners.

"He even ignored a blatant foul on Fabien Barthez!"