Ronald Koeman backed referee Mike Dean after he awarded Saints a first half penalty in the 1-1 draw at Chelsea.

Sadio Mane went down in the box under the combined challenge of Nemanja Matic and Branislav Ivanovic, prompting Dean to award a spot kick, which was converted by Dusan Tadic.

The ref later denied Chelsea a penalty when Ivanovic went down in the Saints box and also opted not show a second yellow card to Matic moments after the start of the second half.

Koeman felt Dean did well.

“In my opinion a penalty, yes,” he said.

“You have always moments and it’s difficult for referees, even in the penalty.

“I think it’s a penalty and then fast in the second half it’s a foul (by Matic) that maybe can be a yellow card and that means a second one.

“I am not supporting referees showing eight, nine, ten yellow cards every game.

“You need to be straight in every occasion. I think the referee did a great job.”