Sunday 15 March 2015 18:30, UK
Ronald Koeman and Jose Mourinho had different views regarding the performance of referee Mike Dean in Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday.
Koeman said the referee did a "great job" while Mourinho was left frustrated with Dean's decision to not award his side a penalty.
Dean gave Saints a spot kick in the first-half for a foul from behind by Nemjana Matic on Saido Mane, which Dusan Tadic scored to cancel out Diego Costa's opener, but Dean waved away a similar appeal for a Chelsea penalty in the second half when Jose Fonte tackled Costa.
Matic could have been sent off for a second booking in the second-half after another foul on Mane, who had skipped away from the midfielder, but Dean decided to keep his red card in his pocket.
When asked about the penalty Southampton were awarded Koeman said: "In my opinion it's a penalty, yes.
"It's difficult jobs for referees. (Matic on Mane) is a foul that maybe can be a yellow card and that means his second one.
"It's always difficult. I'm not supporting referees showing eight, nine, 10 yellow cards every game.
"In my opinion, the referee did a great job today."
Chelsea boss Mourinho was tight-lipped in his press conference about the Costa penalty incident and on another penalty shout when Branislav Ivanovic went down in the area under a challenge from Tadic.
The Blues are six points clear of second-placed Manchester City with a game in-hand, but for the second successive match against Southampton, Mourinho bemoaned decisions by the match officials.
Mourinho was fined £25,000 for saying there was a "clear campaign" against his side after Cesc Fabregas was denied a penalty and booked for diving instead in the December 28 draw at St Mary's.
"I'm happy with the situation. I'm happy with the six-point lead, but I'm not happy with the result," Mourinho said.
"If you remember our two matches against Southampton: in one game, one penalty that is not a penalty and in another game a penalty that was not given. You are speaking about six points transformed into two points."
"My opinion is not important. Important is Mr Mike Dean (the referee).
"His decision was a penalty and his decision was no penalty on Ivanovic."
