Angry Koeman slams Sheffield United's bench

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman accused Sheffield United counterpart Nigel Clough of showing a lack of respect after the Blades dumped his Barclays Premier League side out of the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night.

Koeman refused to shake hands with Clough at full-time after a spat in the wake of the Sky Bet League One side's 1-0 triumph, secured courtesy of Marc McNulty's 63rd-minute winner, which resulted in the hosts' first-team coach Chris Morgan being sent to the stands.

Southampton have now lost five games in a row and the nature of their performance in the cup quarter-final indicates the bubble of their stellar start to the season has firmly burst.

Koeman exchanged angry words with Clough and his coaching staff as tempers flared during the Blades' goal celebrations.

The Dutchman explained his decision to snub the traditional post-match handshake by accusing his opposite number and his bench of disrespecting him and the fourth official.

"I shake hands with people who have respect for me and who have respect for the fourth official," the Dutchman said.

"I think the behaviour of Sheffield United's bench, I never saw that and that's the reason I didn't shake hands."