Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse says he left baffled by the ref's decision to wave away a penalty claim in defeat to Manchester City.

With the scores level and half time approaching, Ward-Prowse was denied a penalty when he was nudged by City left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko in the box, before cruelly deflecting Raheem Sterling's low cross past Alex McCarthy just moments later.

“I was disappointed not to get it," he said of the spot-kick. “It was a good ball from Jack (Stephens) and I knew that if I took my first touch across him I could get into the box.

“When there was contact and it's impeding my chances of scoring, I had to go down.

“The referee says there was contact but didn't give the penalty, which didn't make any sense. He'd have to book me for simulation, which he didn't, so no decision was made."