Ralph Hasenhuttl said Saints deserved ‘more than warm words’ after their 3-2 defeat to Manchester United and insisted they should have had at least one penalty at Old Trafford.

Referee Stuart Atwell turned down two strong appeals for first half spot kicks as Ryan Bertrand went down in the area under challenges from Chris Smalling and Ashley Young.

Atwell only eventually pointed to the spot to award United an injury time penalty which was saved by Angus Gunn.

Hasenhuttl also felt Romelu Lukaku’s first goal, which made it 2-1 to United, was marginally offside, as he was left to feel that his side didn’t get what their performance merited.

He said: “We deserved more than only warm words after such a game.

“After the first half we had really a very good performance and it was not only luck we were in the lead. We played a fantastic tactical game.

“First five minutes we had a bit of luck that we didn’t go back but afterwards we showed that we can also play with the ball and come out of the pressure and press them early.

“A lot of very good decisions we made in the first half and in the second half we were not scared if they put more pressure on us but we had a few crucial things.

“First half there were two situations for a penalty and I think maybe he can give one and then the game is in a completely different way.

“In the second half the goal was offside. Very close but it was and with VAR maybe the result will be a different one.

“You could see after the 2-1 we didn’t stop believing in ourselves and we didn’t stop fighting for everything and working as a very good committed team.

“We came back and then one fantastic player decided this game with his unbelievable power and that’s the end. Very disappointed for us.”

The first penalty appeal for Bertrand was a close call, but the second looked a very good shout.

Hasenhuttl felt that the combined weight of the appeals meant that Saints deserved to get one.

“I don’t know but if the first is the close thing then the second maybe should be one,” he reflected.

“It doesn’t bring anything for me if we discuss it now.

“I think this team showed today that they were really online, they were really focussed on getting something at Old Trafford against a team in the perfect performance and shape at the moment.

“We were not scared and showed we can really play football at the moment and that we are believing in ourselves.”