Former Manchester United striker Michael Owen has hit out at Mike Dean's decision to award the Red Devils a penalty in their 9-0 drubbing of Southampton on Tuesday night.

After Saints debutant Alexandre Jankewitz was sent off less than two minutes in, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men ran riot to equal their best ever Premier League win and condemn the Saints to a second 9-0 defeat in two seasons.

United's seventh goal came in controversial fashion as Anthony Martial was adjudged to have been fouled in the area by Jan Bednarek, who was subsequently sent off, and Owen cannot believe that the resulting penalty - converted by Bruno Fernandes - was awarded.

Owen tweeted: "That absolutely sums things up. The best thing is it hardly matters. But if that's a pen then the game has officially gone. Biggest example of a dive I've seen in ages. Shambles."

Manchester United's record-equalling win saw them go level on points with bitter rivals Manchester City - who have two games in hand - at the top of the table.

Southampton were not the only team to finish a game with nine men on Tuesday either, as Arsenal - who also had a controversial penalty awarded against them - had David Luiz and Bernd Leno sent off in a 2-1 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers.