Angry Ronald Koeman hit out at two refereeing “mistakes” which he in part blamed for Saints failing to reach the group stages of the Europa League.

Saints were last night eliminated in the play-off round of the competition after suffering a 1-0 loss to Danish champions FC Midtjylland, which meant a 2-1 aggregate defeat.

Though Koeman admitted there were a number of factors that cost his side further progression in the competition, he was scathing of the officials.

He was angry over Steven Caulker’s disallowed goal in the first leg and a penalty he believed Saints should have been awarded for a handball from a James Ward-Prowse free kick.

He said: “It’s two mistakes. It’s one penalty and one goal and it’s a big influence on the result.

“It’s different reasons (Saints were knocked out). One of the reasons was the referee of today because it’s a penalty.

“Last week it’s a normal goal but we did a mistake and they scored a 1-1.

“Not all goes to the referee, that’s too easy, but a part of our disappointment and the final result is also by the referee.”

Koeman felt his side only really got going when Dusan Tadic was introduced early in the second half, having dipped after a bright opening to the game.

“Very (disappointed) because if you don’t create chances the disappointment is a little bit different,” he reflected.

“I think we start well the game, we dominate the game, we had some good chances in the beginning and one mistake, one chance, very clinical 1-0.

“And then you know we had the experience about last week it’s difficult because they defend well, defending strong, one of the qualities of them is aggressive winning second balls and then you need to be more creative.

“I think Dusan came in the game and he makes the difference but in the process not lucky enough. Every ball fell to one of them.

“I have to say, and it’s critical to both referees in both games, if you analyse both games, we had more chances, we scored a normal goal last week and if you watch television and you see the free kick of Prowsey it’s a penalty. So easy. But if you don’t see it that still makes it more complex, more difficult.

“Then the final result, the final result of last week, is totally different.

“Congratulations to Midtjylland. They play well, they play out of a good organisation and they scored today and we didn’t.”

Koeman was asked whether the tie showed the difference in the cutting edge required at European level and replied: “It’s not easy to create because there is no space defending well, good organisation and then you need to be more creative or to have a shot or to have an action with a good cross.

“Until Dusan came in the crosses were not good.”

Sadio Mane was amongst the subs after recovering from the injury he sustained against Watford, but Koeman revealed his reasons for not bringing him on.

“Sadio wasn’t 100 per cent and I didn’t take the risk because it’s the start of the season,” he admitted. “It’s not everything today.”