Eddie Howe said Fabian Schar was conned by what Alan Shearer labelled Ben Brereton Diaz's dirty tricks during the headbutt incident that saw the Newcastle defender sent off and tempers later flare in a tunnel fracas.
Shearer called it 's***housery at its finest' when Southampton debutant Brereton Diaz fell to the ground after he and Schar nudged foreheads during a first-half altercation. Craig Pawson sent off Schar and booked Brereton Diaz, who was mercilessly booed thereafter.
Newcastle defender Dan Burn then waited in the tunnel for the forward at half-time and Southampton's players were forced to step in.