Lambert: Halsey will be embarrassed

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert claims referee Mark Halsey will be "embarrassed" at the penalty award which doomed his side to a 1-0 home defeat against Southampton in the Barclays Premier League relegation battle.

Replays indicated that Villa defender Enda Stevens made no contact on Saints player Jay Rodriguez before he went down. But referee Halsey - a late replacement for the ill Chris Foy - thought otherwise and Saints skipper Rickie Lambert made no mistake from the spot for his ninth goal of the campaign.

Lambert said: "I've seen the penalty loads of times. I've had a chat with Mark (Halsey) after the game. He was adamant he was 100% right - and he has guessed. It was never a penalty, never, nowhere near it."

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