Pundit says El Ghazi should have been sent off at St Mary's

The Villa winger had already been booked during Saints’ 1-0 win over Aston Villa on Friday when he then plunged himself to ground under seemingly no contact inside the area.

His yellow card had come after he tugged Tino Livramento to the ground early in the first half, before he repeated a similar act and got away with it shortly after.

So when he went to ground looking for a penalty with nobody even close to him, pundit Murphy has suggested it is a “simple” decision that he should see a second yellow.

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"The referee shouldn't need VAR, it is right in front of him," he said, speaking on BBC’s Match of the Day.

Anwar El Ghazi was handed a sheet of fresh tactics by manager Dean Smith during the defeat (Pic: PA)

"It is an obvious dive, he is trying to cheat and it is a yellow card and a sending off, it is simple."

Dutchman El Ghazi remained on the pitch until the second-half, where he helped lead a Villa fightback that had Saints on the ropes.

Murphy has also said that he believes Villa should have had a penalty, with the injustice perhaps evening itself out.

In the second period, Oriol Romeu was seen tugging down Tyrone Mings inside the area but the defender was honest and didn’t force the referee to make a decision.

Premier League referee Andy Madley (Pic: PA)

"It is a penalty,” Murphy insisted, “it is more of a penalty than the Newcastle one (awarded against the Magpies in their 1-1 draw with Brighton)," he added.

"It is not a bit of a tug, I think it is a big tug and it stopped him getting to the ball.

"That's what VAR is for, it is bizarre."