VAR, WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR? LET’S FIND OUT...

After this latest calamity, there was not so much a debate about VAR but instead a roaring consensus. Southampton’s grievances took centre stage after Charlie Austin’s emotional television interview in which he branded the decision by Simon Hooper to disallow his goal as ‘a joke’ and ‘ridiculous’. Austin thought he had added a second goal to Manolo Gabbiadini’s first-half strike, which would have doubled Saints’ advantage and secured a crucial win in a week in which vice-chairman Les reed was sacked following the club’s poor start to the season. Yet referee Hooper believed that Austin’s strike took a deflection off Maya Yoshida, who was offside. However, the Japanese defender did not touch the ball. Austin said: ‘I asked the linesman, “Why did you give that?’’ and he said, “It wasn’t me, it was the referee”. the referee’s had a beast. It’s fine margins. the same with the officials, so why don’t we help them?’ Both Austin and his manager Mark Hughes, who accused the PGMOL of providing an ‘inexperienced’ referee that they would not have dared hand to the Manchester clubs, may face fA action. Yet Watford had reason for frustration when ryan Bertrand lunged into Nathaniel Chalobah in the penalty box at 1-0. Bertrand would have been shown a second yellow had the penalty been awarded. Manager Javi Gracia said referees should be allowed to vote on VAr: ‘If they want it, I agree. In training sessions, I referee — it’s very difficult with all of the players complaining!’ the draw leaves Hughes facing the prospect of becoming the first Premier League manager to be sacked twice in the same calendar year, after leaving Stoke in January. Southampton have scored one goal from open play in their last seven league games and Yoshida added: ‘It’s difficult for the fans. they’re spending money. So next game we try.’

SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-3-1): McCarthy 6.5; Cedric 6, Hoedt 6, Yoshida 7, Bertrand 6, Lemina 6, Hojbjerg 6.5; Redmond 6.5 (Obafemi 90min), Gabbiadini 7, Armstrong 6.5 (Ward-Prowse 74, 6); Ings 5.5 (Austin 40, 6). Subs not used: Gunn, Vestergaard, Stephens, Elyounoussi. Scorer: Gabbiadini 20. Booked: Cedric, Bertrand, Hojbjerg. Manager: Mark Hughes 6. WATFORD (4-4-2): Foster 6; Femenia 6.5, Mariappa 6.5, Cathcart 6, Holebas 7; Hughes 5.5 (Deeney 40, 6), Chalobah 6.5, DOUCOURE 7.5, Pereyra 5 (Gray 68, 6); Deulofeu 6.5, Success 6. Subs not used: Gomes, Kabasele, Wilmot, Masina, Okaka. Booked: Deulofeu, Chalobah. Scorer: Holebas 82. Manager: Javi Gracia 6. Referee: Simon Hooper 4. Attendance: 28,153.