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Attendance: 20,018

Premier League

Jan 13, 2018 at 3pm UK

Watford
2-2
Southampton

Gray (58'), Doucoure (90')

FT(HT: 0-2)

Ward-Prowse (20', 44')

Mauricio Pellegrino calls for use of VAR in Premier League

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 13 January 2018

Mauricio Pellegrino insists that the manner of the mistake made by officials late on in Southampton's 2-2 draw against Watford is something he has 'never seen before'.

Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino has called for the introduction of VAR in the Premier League following the "injustice" of his side's 2-2 draw with Watford.

The Saints were denied all three points at Vicarage Road on Saturday afternoon due to a late Abdoulaye Doucoure goal, which was scored via the French midfielder's hand.

Video assistant referees are being trialled in domestic cup competitions over the next few months, beginning with the FA Cup third-round tie between Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace earlier this week, but a frustrated Pellegrino now wants to see it rolled out in the English top flight.

"For sure [we should have won] but football is like this sometimes, small details change everything," he told BBC Sport. "We are very sad but we have to accept the rules. It's part of football.

"I never see this type of mistake in the Premier League before. To live [with] this injustice is really hard. I think we have to try [VAR] and analyse if it's possible to help the sport to make better decisions, even for the referee."

Southampton, who had earlier led 2-0 in Hertfordshire, return to action next Sunday with a home match against Tottenham Hotspur.