Saints completed the most physical part of their pre season programme with a win over Beiktas after coming back from behind.

What is clear from the way Saints pre season has been constructed is that Mauricio Pochettino seems to presfer to have a tough physical start to the programme, then taper it off as the season approaches, this has its advantages in that it enables the squad to get to a level of fitness and then hopefully maintain it without any injuries as the Premier League season approaches.

The end to the visit to Austria came with a fixture against Beiktas of Turkey, one thing that we should remember though is that if we are going to adopt a stance of fitness etc being more important than the result in defeat, then we should maintain that in winning.

Again it was a game of two halves with multiple changes being made in the second, however all the action was agin in the second half as well, the Turkish side opened the scoring on the hour and it looked like it might be a second defeat in the stadium for Saints, but then in the final twenty minutes came the comeback, on 70 minutes Lambert took a Jack Cork free kick on his chest before smashing home, then what was effectively was the winner came from an unlikely source as Mayuka did the first thing of note in his Saints career to give Saints the lead on 78, the icing on the cake was in the final minute when Luke Shaw made a great run and crossed for Lloyd Isgrove to be the second player to open hsi Saints first team account.

But as I say the result is secondary, the real worry in the camp at the moment seems to be the absence of Natahn Clyne who was once again missing with Callum Chambers filling in, staring his fourth game in a row, this has to be a major concern for the manager.

On the other hand Lloyd Isgove's goal asks another question and that is whether the player will be good enough to challenge for a first team place next season, if he is he could not only save the club multi millions but fill a huge gap in our team, Mayuka's goal was very welcome, so far I have seen absolutely nothing from the player to suggest that he can have a future at this club, but we will now see if this goal can be the catalyst, being honest Im not convinced that it will, but stranger things have happened.

So a satisfactory ending to the trip to Austria, although as I say the result will not tell us much but the manager will have learnt a lot about his players, the pre season will now taper down towards the big kick off now, with the final weeks seeing only two friendlies, although it could be that Saints have at least one other set up behind closed doors.

Photo: Action Images

LeicesterSaint added 10:21 - Jul 29 Saw the highlights of the game and although Saints were opened up a few times we looked good and to be fair to him Mayuka took his goal really well, it was a cracking finish as was Rickie's. Mayuka was making some great runs and if he can continue to finish like that may have a place as a impact sub in the coming season. Great report as always - looking forward to the new season - CANT WAIT! COYR!!

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SaintNick added 10:50 - Jul 29 I hope Mayuka can turn out to be a gem, but everytime I see him I think Bradley Wright Phillips, loads of pace, can hit the odd goal but overall running around like a headless chicken
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LeicesterSaint added 10:58 - Jul 29 That is certainly true about Mayuka, he does run around like a headless chicken, he mistimes his runs and his finishing needs improvement and the BWP comparisons are true but I think I have seen enough to give him another shot this season from the subs bench - if he can iron out these kinks he may have a future with us and can hopefully chip in with some important goals. Its our right back situation that is causing me concern at the moment - I guess we can call on Cork to deputise there if necessary but I want him fighting for his postion in our midfield really.

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StEdmund added 11:04 - Jul 29 Watching the whole game on the internet, Guly was the only player who stood out (as a playmaker), in a toothless display. Lambert made all the difference, I'm not convinced by Rodrigues yet. Don't forget Mayaka also have a goal disallowed for offside. Pucneon had a strong game too.
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legod7 added 11:19 - Jul 29 MP cannot be convinced of Callum Chambers as the back up to Nathaniel Clyne in the Premiership otherwise he would have given him more game time. To drop Jack Cork into the right back position surely means we will be signing a right back who can compete with Clyne
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slynch added 12:17 - Jul 29 Saints started where they left off the last game with the possession/passing game being a matter of giving it to someone else cos you've got no ideas. MP gradually changed the team and it turned into a more imaginative aggressive unit. Wanyama makes the present MF look like school boys, well done Reed NC MP etc, and maybe Davis looked the best of the rest. Cork did ok deputizing for Clyne. Punch has come on again this season, Shaw still looks great and Lambo looked less lethargic with the better supply in the last 20mins. Lovren looked better and Mayuka seems to have an eye for scoring instead of passing. Chambers and Isgrove are steppin' up to the plate. And we're still all waiting for Ramirez to show up. I for one would be confident if the last 11 was the starting 11 against WBA.

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