Angry Ronald Koeman hit out at the inconsistency of Premier League officials after seeing his side denied what he believed were two clear-cut penalties in their 1-0 defeat at Leicester.

Leicester City 1-0 Southampton - as it happened >>

It is the third game in a row Koeman has been dismayed that penalties have not been awarded to his team by various refs, but in the previous two matches they didn’t cost Saints, as they went on to beat Stoke and Liverpool regardless.

However, that was not the case at the King Power Stadium, with Wes Morgan’s goal all that separated the two sides.

Danny Simpson was the first player to get away with one as he blocked a certain goal from Sadio Mane, with referee Michael Oliver giving him the benefit of the doubt when the alternative was a penalty and a straight red card.

In the second half, Charlie Austin’s cross was stopped by the arm of Robert Huth, but again Oliver ruled it accidental, much to Koeman’s annoyance.

He raged: “I wasn’t happy about my team how we start.

“I think that was not the way how we need to start against teams like Leicester, because you know one of their strengths is being very aggressive from the first until the last second in the game.

“After 50 minutes I think we controlled the game with better football, some good chances, and in my opinion there are two key moments in the game.

“Of course, they happened, and I don’t like to take some credit from the Leicester performance of the three points of today, because they had two or three big chances in the second half to score the second. But, I think we deserved two penalties, and that’s the third time in a row.

“Stoke City away, Liverpool home Shane Long, today. And it’s a key moment in the game.

“The chance of Mane is handball on his arm, and if not the ball goes in. It’s not turning your body, no, he takes the risk. It’s a penalty and it’s a red card and that makes it totally different the game.

“The second is the cross of Charlie Austin, defending by handball. I saw yesterday a penalty for Newcastle – is that different?

“That is what I ask. If it’s not a penalty don’t give penalties for that kind of decisions.

“It’s a big decision in the game.”

Koeman spoke to Oliver after the game but got no joy.

“I ask him to see the clip, but it’s not allowed for them I think to see the clip,” he shrugged.

“Maybe tonight if he stays home with his family he realises that he did a big, big, big mistake today.”

He added: “It’s not as we call in Holland one line. It’s handball or it’s not handball.

“Ok, all the credit to Leicester because again a clean sheet to them.

“Second half better football from our side, better chances to score, defending very good from Leicester, and again they had two or three big chances to score the second one.”

Koeman did praise one decision from Oliver, who opted to yellow card Victor Wanyama early in the second half when the Leicester fans were clamouring for a red.

“No, because there was people running on his side. There is running two or three defenders on his side,” insisted Koeman.

“It’s a good decision. It’s a yellow card.”