Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin has defended his tackle on West Ham United's Mohamed Diame during today's goalless draw between the two sides.

Referee Andre Marriner did not award a free kick for the challenge when it took place just before half time, a decision that baffled West Ham manager Sam Allardyce, who thought that it warranted a red card.

Schneiderlin offered his apologies to Diame, who was able to play on following the incident, but did not think at the time that it was a bad tackle.

"I need to see the image again but at that moment I didn't think I had done anything wrong," Schneiderlin told Sky Sports News.

"I didn't have the feeling at the time that it was bad, I am not a player who commits those kind of fouls.

"If I touched him in any way, I apologise but I have not the feeling that I did anything wrong."

The results lifts Southampton up one place to 11th in the Premier League table, although they remain a point and a position below the Hammers.