Hughes says FA are right to charge Alonso

Southampton manager Mark Hughes has welcomed the Football Association’s decision to charge Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso with violent conduct following his late tackle on Shane Long.

Alonso initially escaped punishment from referee Mike Dean after appearing to stand on Long’s calf during Saturday’s Premier League clash at St Mary’s.

Relegation-threatened Saints were 2-0 up at that point, but went on to lose 3-2, conceding three times in the space of eight second-half minutes.

Hughes hit out at the standard of top-flight refereeing in the wake of his team’s defeat, but is pleased retrospective action has been taken.

“I said after the game I thought it needed to be looked at, not really trying to get somebody in trouble, but I just felt it was a bad challenge,” said former Chelsea striker Hughes.

“It has been looked at again and I think there is a quick turnaround on these things so we should hear if there is a suspension put in place. I think it was the right call.

“Clearly it was a poor challenge and should have been seen by the officials. The fourth official, assistant referee and the referee were all pretty close to it.

“The decision in my view would have been the boy would have been sent off and the circumstances of the game would have been different.

“That’s gone now and we cannot do anything about that unfortunately.”