FOOTBALL ACTION,

CHARLIE AUSTIN branded the offside decision which scuppered Southampton against Watford a “joke”.

The Saints hitman appeared to put Mark Hughes’ strugglers 2-0 up in the 67th minute – only for the officials to rule Maya Yoshida had interfered with play.

That brought a furious response from Austin afterwards and a stinging attack from his under-fire boss Mark Hughes.

Austin said: “We scored a perfectly good goal that was ruled out for offside.

“The officials cost us two points. They said it was offside, that is a joke.

“People go on about VAR, they clearly need help. If this is the best, most-watched league in the world, then give them all the help they need. It’s ridiculous.”

Hughes, still looking for a first home win this season after the clash finished 1-1, was equally harsh as he tore into relatively new top-flight ref Simon Hooper.

The Saints supremo said: “We’ve been given