Saints made it three wins from three in pre season, in what was again another game played at pace that was far from that which they will face in the Premier League, but at this stage it is not yet about winning or the manner in which it is done.

The game started well for Saints when they won a penalty in the 4th minute, Sulemana took it but his tame shot was saved and luckily he was able to put in the rebound.

For a while Montepellier looked like they would get an equaliser, they hit the woodwork three times, the first coming when Alex McCarthy made a hash of a simple save and allowed the ball to drop through his hands a yard out from his own line, he scrambled back and managed to push it onto the post and then block as the Montepellier forward tried to force the ball home.

From the resulting corner the French side once again struck the woodwork with McCarthy also keeping the ball out.

Saints got their composure back, but it was the opposition who struck first, luckily it was the woodwork again and the score stayed at 1-0.

In the final minute of the half Tyler Dibling ran on to a lovely through ball, held off his man and stroked it home.

The second half didn't start well for Saints when with just 7 minutes gone Montpellier pulled one back a Le Tissier style free kick over the wall leaving McCarthy no chance.

But Saints restored the two goal cushion very quickly when a lovely cross by new signing Yukinari Sugawara was met by Taylor Harwood-Bellis who headed home clinically.

After the hour mark saw more changes with Sam Amo-Ameyaw one of them and he looked lively and was brought down for the second penalty of the day, this one was taken by Sekou Mara whose effort made Sulemara's in the first half look like a blockbuster, an easy save but this time no easy tap in from the rebound.

Near the end Montpellier could have had a second, Alex McCarthy made a hash of dealing with a back pass and the opposition really should have scored, but although their player rounded McCarthy and seemingly had an open goal, he dithered and James Bree got a tackle to win the ball in front of the open goal.

So it stayed at 3-1 come the final whistle, again not a lot to be gleaned from what was another low key match in terms of the intensity and the fact that Russell Martin used 20 outfield players with Alex McCarthy being the only man to complete the full 90 minutes.

Southampton now return home for the 4th of their pre season fixtures and the pace will now start to step up on Wednesday when the team travel to Oxford United.

Photo: Action Images

SaintPaulVW added 15:03 - Jul 27 My takeouts were: Cracking pass from Edwards for the Dibling goal. Sugawara looks great Dibling deserves to stay and be in the squad, Aribo, Smallbone and Downes are a solid base we can build around. As Smallbone also benefitted from, Mara needs to go out on loan, he needs regular gametime. So far so good
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kristianJ added 15:11 - Jul 27 It’s always hard to assess how well a team will do from pre season friendlies, especially with all of the changes that are made by both teams. I thought both Dibling and Amo were excellent again and should be given a chance in the EPL. Both look physically stronger and Amo looks better without the ball now when he has defensive work to do. That aside I think everyone knows we need a new keeper and we possibly another option up top given the injury concerns around RS. Sagawara looks like a good addition at right back. Thought we played well, but on another day we could easily have conceded a couple more. As stated in the article Mara’s penalty was awful. He’s very fortunate to be given so many chances given the lack of return.

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Bowlercow added 16:00 - Jul 27 As always with pre season games it is difficult to assess performances It's all about getting minutes into the legs Edozie beats defenders very easily at times but today he also missed two tap ins Sugawara looks very capable KWP and ABK missing again so you have to believe they are on the way out
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1teeminants added 17:07 - Jul 27 I think ABK and KWP Will be sold to fund new keeper , new striker and O Riley from Celtic .
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harrapuk added 22:20 - Jul 27 Still no Ross Stewart!
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WoolstonSaint2 added 08:44 - Jul 28 We still look very weak defensively. McCarthy, our number 1 GK, all over the place. Montpellier hit the woodwork 3 or 4 times. That was with our top choice midfield 3 starting. Sulemana penalty was terrible for a pub team player. We are ping to get smashed in the PL.
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WoolstonSaint2 added 08:46 - Jul 28 Oooops- going, not ping!
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Monksway added 09:22 - Jul 28 Still very early in pre season but so far positives are Sugarawa, THB, Edwards, Taylor, Downes, Smallbone, Aribo, Dibling, Armstrong and Sam Amo. Poor from Mara, Alcaraz, Kamaldeen, Lis and McCarthy. More to prove from Edozie, Charles, Manning and Wood. Bednarek, Lallana, Stephens, Stewart still to really show up. KWP massive miss going forward if he leaves I feel.
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codge added 20:36 - Jul 28 Please no penalties from Mara anymore.
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