RICHARD Chaplow revealed that hotheaded Mauricio Taricco levelled a bizarre parting gesture at him and Adam Lallana after being sent off during Saints’ 3-0 win over the Seagulls.

The Albion assistant manager, who was playing at right back, was dismissed for arguing with referee Peter Walton about a dubious penalty awarded to Saints in the second half, when Lewis Dunk tangled with Jose Fonte.

As Taricco left the pitch, with his team already 1-0 down, television pictures clearly showed him gesturing towards some of the Saints players, by appearing to put his hand in an imaginary pocket.

Following the match, Chaplow revealed on his Twitter account that the 38-year-old defender, and Gus Poyet’s number two, had aimed the parting shot at both him and Adam Lallana before disappearing down the tunnel.

Chaplow wrote: “Taricco left the pitch saying he had me and @adlallana1 in his pocket!

Haha what a belter now get back on that sunbed with your zimmer frame.”

The midfielder subsequently deleted the message, although not before it had been widely ‘retweeted’ by scores of Saints fans.

Chaplow later followed that up by writing that he “respected” Taricco for what he has achieved, but added “he always has to argue”.

Lallana, on his own account, said the incident had made him laugh and added that Taricco would have been wise to “act his age”.

Chaplow & Lallana's Tweets

@Rchap04: Taricco left the pitch saying he had me and @adlallana1 in his pocket! Haha what a belter now get back on that sunbed with your zimmer frame

@Rchap04: I do respect Taricco for Wat he has achieved in his career by just cant take the him seriously always has to argue hence why he got sent off

@adlallana1: Gr8 result for us today, fans sung their heart out, taricco made me laugh when he got sent off, would of been wiser to #acthisage