The best that can be said about this game overall was that it was a good workout for the squad on a sunny day with just one highlight.

A crowd of 14,730 including a couple of dozen Espanyol fans assembled to watch the final pre season friendly of the summer, although coming sandwiched inbetween the two games against Vitesse this was perhaps less of a pre season workout and more a chance to give the squad a workout.

That being the case Ronald Koeman made 7 changes to the starting line up from Thursday evening and the four players left in were being played for a reason, Jose Fonte to get some understanding with new signing Steven Caulker in the centre of defence, Matt Targett to give him more experience, Wanyama to anchor the midfield and Pelle so that we could keep the same formation.

It was not a good start for Saints tough and they fell behind on 11 minutes an Espanyol player being found in acres of room on our left and drilling a shot past Kelvin Davis, Saints had their chances in the fist half but you felt this was a game being played without any real intensity.

At half time it was all change in terms of personnel, but the game followed exactly the same pattern and in truth was dour, late on Espanyol put in a few dodgy tackles especially one on Jay Rodriguez, but perversely this was good in that it was another step in J Rod finding that he can take physical punishment without serious injury.

It looked to be heading to a tame defeat when Jay Rodriguez struck from around 25 yards with a goal that Matt LeTissier would have been proud of.

Many of the crowd would have missed it as they were already streaming to the exits when Rodriguez received the ball around 5 yards outside the box, there looked to be little on when he let fly with a screaming shot that gave the keeper no chance.

All in all this was a game that Saints would probably have preferred not to play coming right in the middle of the Europa League games, however as much as it was a boring afternoon for the fans, it did give them a chance to see a few new signings in action and it gave a good run out to those in the squad needing a little bit more football than they have got lately.

Photo: Action Images

Jasper added 14:35 - Aug 3 I missed JRod's goal, my view blocked by those oh so annoying fans who leave a football match early. They should be put up against that team wall out front and shot!
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SaintBrock added 16:28 - Aug 3 It wasn't all bad even 'though Espanyol hadn't bothered to turn up. JWP did the full Ninety and just got better and better, Harry Reed look useful and Juanmi was clearly on a mission to impress and nail down a starting place. He looks to be one hell of a player. Caulker will need a change of mindset there was a lot of desperation in his way of playing that has no place in a winning team. Now Ronny will have a real problem to solve. Apart from Vic the other midfielders are all of about the same standard. Right now it looks like JWP and Juanmi with SD backing up. Look, it was crap, half hearted and boring but it was our team right, in red & white right so what's not to like?

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aceofthebase added 17:12 - Aug 3 Does Le God get roped in to teach our boys how to shoot? If not he should be. I thought Caulker had a good game after a few early hesitant touches., just settling in. Great shot JR, more please.
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