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Southampton At Newport County The Verdict

A record breaking night for Southampton Football Club, but what did we learn from the most one sided match I think I have ever watched Saints play, read on to find out all about the action at Rodney parade.

The record books were scoured last night to reveal that Saints 8-0 drubbing of Newport County in the Carabao cup last night was the record away victory as well as equalling the 8-0 thrashing of Sunderland back in September 2014 and also of Northampton Town in December 1921.

Saints fans arrived at Rodney Parade expecting a cup tie atmosphere and a tough game from a side who in recent years have had a reputation for taking on Premier League sides and making them work for their money in Cup ties.

However this was not to be one of those nights, the ground was far from packed in the home sections, surprising given that this was the first chance for Newport fans to see their team at home in 18 months.

Those Saints fans wanting to see youth would be disappointed, the team was one of mostly experience and Ralph Hasenhuttl's starting XI revealed just how much we have come on this season in terms of building up the squad.

There were only two players in the starting line up who started against Manchester United on Sunday, but Armando Broja and Nathan Tella aside the team had a wealth of experience.

Newport did come out with a little bluster but the pattern of the game was soon set when Saints broke away in the 9th minute and Nathan Redmond saw his shot hit the underside of the bar and there was Armado Broja to show great composure in controlling then ball and firing home for the first goal of the evening.

On 25 minutes it was 2-2 when Nathan Tella scored and on the stroke of half time Kyle Walker Peters made it three.

It could have been more and up to that 3rd goal there was still the nagging doubt that the home side would come out all guns blazing second half.

That was put to bed within 3 minutes when Moi Elyounoussi scored the first goal in his Saints career to start off a 20 minute spell that in total reaped 4 goals that saw Saints 7-0 up with 21 minutes to play.

At this point Newport must have feared conceding double figures and although we continued to dominate and their attacking thread was virtually zero, it would be the final minute of injury time before we hit the 8th and final goal.

In many respects it is hard to really say what we got out of it, we can't get too carried away with the result, but it was a pleasing display as it showed a squad that now has depth and seems to be playing for the manager, given that there were truly only two perhaps three players who most Saints fans would pick in their starting line up, it shows how the summer signings have boosted the squad and we can now go into games with at least two players in every position.

So what did we learn.

At the back very little although Kyle Walker Peters showed that he should be playing in the team and we need to accommodate both him and Tino Livramento.

Yan Valery made a pleasing contribution, a couple of years ago he looked destined for the top and proved himself at Premier League level, but he lost his way, last night he looked like he wanted to play for the team, perhaps he does have a future at the club, although he will now find it tough to get in the team.

In the centre of midfield Ibrahima Diallo showed that he is a player that can win the ball and move it quickly, again he will find it tough to get in ahead of JWP and Oriol Romeu, but if he does get a run he might just prove that he can't be left out.

Armando Broja looked both mobile and strong and is a different type of striker to Che Adams and Adam Armstrong, he took his goals well and although this was against a League Two side, I have seen many a Saints team struggle against lower league opposition.

Moi Elyounoussi looked the part and hit a hat trick, he clearly looks like he wants the opportunity to show what he can do, something he failed to do in his first year at the club, again he will find it hard to get into the team but he could be useful off the bench,

So from an individual basis it is hard to get too worked up, this was an easy fixture and the disappointment is that we didn't hit double figures, we really should have done, but from a team perspective there was a lot to take.

It showed that having made 7 signings and with an 8th announced in the hours before kick off Ralph Hasenhuttl has truly put a squad together this season and has now got the two players in every position.

Given that this was a virtual reserve team as we used to call it, the signs are encouraging.

There were players in this team who would have been regarded as first choice three years ago when we were struggling pre Ralph's arrival, Stephens, Redmond & Elyounoussi to name but three, who are this season likely to be fringe players and it was more about the players missing than those who played that showed our depth.

So a good day at the office, but this result will mean nothing if we don't turn it into a win at Newcastle, we have weathered the trials and tribulations of last season and showed that we have rebuilt the squad and are now ready to move forward again.

No one should get carried away by this result, but it is something that we should see as a sign that the club is progressing and that we are far from being the relegation fodder that some predicted, that doesn't mean we are top 10 material, but it does show that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

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