Austin explains Tadic penalty feud in Southampton's win over Sparta Prague

Southampton striker Charlie Austin was instrumental in his team's 3-0 Europa League win over Sparta Prague, scoring two goals on his European debut to help his team to all three points in Group K.

The 27-year-old joined the Saints out of Queens Park Rangers in January but started the 2016-17 season in poor form, failing to score in his three limited appearances as his side now sits in 18th place in the Premier League table.

But the Saints enjoyed a turn in fortune on the night, felling Sparta Prague with ease, with Austin burying an early penalty before adding a second courtesy of a fine header.

"It's a special night for me. More importantly it was all about the win for us," Austin told BT Sport, as quoted by ESPN FC. "Not only in this competition but to get the lads' spirits up because we've not had the greatest of starts in the league but we knew if we put a performance together the win would come and luckily enough tonight, it did."

While Austin revels in his special night, his teammate Dusan Tadic will feel hard done by some of the tactical decisions made in the match; as Austin geared up to take the penalty, Tadic argued that it should be he who takes the spot kick.

If there was a question of who will take penalties for Southampton, Austin has his answer, at the very least.

"It was a little bit silly, I think," Austin told reporters. "But I had a lot of confidence in my ability and I think I should take the penalties. I was lucky it went in but it was all about the team. We got a good start and that was it. We move on now.

"We've not had a penalty this year, but I'm the centre-forward - I feel I should take it, and rightly so."

There are no hard feelings between the two, though, as Austin said he and Tadic "kissed and made up" after the match.