Saints got back into winning ways in pre season with a win over French side Dijon FCO as we head into the final two weeks of preparation.
Mark Hughes will be pleased with the performance as Saints gained a comfortable win in France beating Dijon FCO by two goals to nil.
Hughes opted for a strongish side for the first half including a first start for Jannik Vesterfgaard and a return for Jan Bednarek after his summer at the World Cup, although there was no sign of Mario Lemina even on the bench.
Saints opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a well worked goal, Stuart Armstrong surged forward and then slid the ball for the overlapping Ryan Bertrand who crossed perfectly for Shane Long to fire home.
At the break Hughes made five changes including a debut for keeper Angus Gunn and the changes paid dividends straight away with Manolo Gabbiadini scoring after only 14 seconds of the re start,
Charlie Austin picking up a loose ball and found Gabbiadini who lofted it over the keeper to double the lead.
Saints were now in full control and made more changes in the 66th minute, with Harrison Reed, Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse replacing Sam McQueen, Romeu and Gabbiadini.
Angus Gunn had his first real work to do as the game went into the last twenty minutes and did it well to ensure a clean sheet.
All in all Mark Hughes will be pleased with not only the result but the manner of it, but he will know that like the previous games it is nothing more than another step towards the real work beginning in the final week before the Premier League opener against Burnley and that not too much should be read into anything just yet.
SOUTHAMPTON
1
ALEX MCCARTHY (GK)
ANGUS GUNN (46′)
6
WESLEY HOEDT
12
JANNIK VESTERGAARD
35
JAN BEDNAREK
JACK STEPHENS (46′)
21
RYAN BERTRAND (C)
MATT TARGETT (75′)
38
SAM MCQUEEN
HARRISON REED (66′)
14
ORIOL ROMEU
JAMES WARD-PROWSE (66′)
23
PIERRE-EMILE HØJBJERG
STEVEN DAVIS (46′)
17
STUART ARMSTRONG
MOHAMED ELYOUNOUSSI (46′)
7
SHANE LONG
CHARLIE AUSTIN (46′)
20
MANOLO GABBIADINI
NATHAN REDMOND (66′)
SUBSTITUTES
28
ANGUS GUNN
5
JACK STEPHENS
33
MATT TARGETT
25
HARRISON REED
8
STEVEN DAVIS
16
JAMES WARD-PROWSE
11
MOHAMED ELYOUNOUSSI
22
NATHAN REDMOND
27
SAM GALLAGHER
10
CHARLIE AUSTIN