h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Southampton FC V West Ham: Game played 6/2/16
Saints 1 West Ham 0
Saints line up:Forster,van Dijk,Fonte,Yoshida,Soares,
Clasie (Sub for Ward-Prowse)Wanyama,
Bertrand, Mané(Sub for Romeu),Pellè (Sub for Austin)Long,
A hard battling game for saints as Wnyma sent off in the second half, so Saints down to 10 men for over half an hour. Forster made a couple of saves but was hardly troubled by West Ham. van Dijk was superb. The defence rock solid, and Saints go 5 games without a goal against. I'm not here for a while as off to St Mary's to take in a stadium tour. But will come back and report on that as well as any games I miss.

BBC link to above game: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35452708

Swansea V Southampton: Game played 13/2/15
Swansea 0 Saints 1

BBC link to game : http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35510143.

For some reason the page wouldn't load hence a shorter version.

Saint now have gone 6 games and had no goals scored against, winning 5 drawing one. they are up to 6th in the league. One point off 5th. Next game v Chelsea

Southampton V Chelsea:Game played 27/9/16

Saints 1 Chelsea 2
Saints line up:
Forster,Soares,van Dijk,Fonte,Bertrand,Clasie,Romeu.
Long (Sub for Pellè 69'mins),Davis.
Targett (Sub for Ward-Prowse 89'mins,Austin (Sub for Mané 79'mins)
With Long scoring again saints were 1.0 up but due to Pelle's mistake went down to 1.1, then Chelsea scored again to win the game. Saints go down to 7th.

BBC link to game: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35619625

Next Bournemouth Tues 1/3/16. Then Sunderland 6/3/16 I'm going to that match so late report!

Bournemouth V Southampton:Game played 1/3/15

Bournemouth 2 Saints 0

Saints line up:Forster,van Dijk,Fonte,Yoshida (Sub for Davis 35'mins)Soares,Ward-Prowse,Romeu,Bertrand,Mané,Long (Sub for Tadic 70'mins),Austin (Sub for Pellè 60'mins)

Saints were under heavy attack from the go of this game, and just did not have an answer. They got slightly better when Yoshida was subbed. But wee one goal down hen. Overall Bournemouth wanted this more, and the first time they've beaten Saints at Dean Court/Vitality Stadium/Goldsands Stadium since 1958!

BBC link to game: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35637650.

Next Sunderland!

Southampton FC V Sunderland AFC: Game played 5/3/16.
Saints 1 Sunderland 1

Saints line up:Forster,Martina,Fonte,van Dijk,Bertrand,Romeu.
Clasie(Sub for Juanmi at 65'mins),Davis (Sub for Ward-Prowse at 65'mins),Mané(Sub for Yoshida at 83'mins),Tadic,Pellè.

A game I managed to get to, Saints not at their bet at all, and seemed not to wan to score, Mane was poor, Pelle not so good. Saints missing Long, and maybe Austin. Fonte Sent off reduced Saints to 10 men then Sunderland scored. But this seemed to wake up Saints. And although some left the ground right on time added on van Dijk scored much to our relief.

Thank you to the steward who allowed us to sit at the side, a Mrs Saint couldn't make it to seat DD. And to the idiot Bournemouth supporter at Northampton South services, who wrote F Off Saints on my car. Hope I meet you one day, you childish !

BBC link to game:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35675848.

Next Stoke at Stoke!

Stoke V Southampton: Game played 12/3/16

Stoke 1 Saints 2:

Saints line up: Forster,Martina,van Dijk,Bertrand,
Targett (Sub for Yoshida at 80'mins),Romeu,
Clasie (Sub for Ward-Prowse at 69'mins), Long,Davis,
Tadic (Sub for Mané at 75'mins)Pellè.

Sains came to Stoke on the back of 3 losing games, and drawing their last. All experts put them down for a loss. But, Pelle came good and scored two goals in the first half, Tadic should have scored but fiddled around in the area so stoke took the ball off him. The Stoke goalie later brought Tadic down, surely a penalty? No ref awarded a free kick (in my opinion either Tadic dived thus a yellow card, or he was fouled in a goal scoring attempt thus a penalty!) Then the Ref sent Mane off for using his elbow, when replays show he did not. But despite the Ref' best efforts to get Stoke a winner Saints won!

BBC link to Stoke game: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35733430

Next up Liverpool!

Southampton V Liverpool: Game played 20/3/16.
Saints 3 Liverpool 2

Saints line up:Forster,Martina,Fonte,van Dijk,Bertrand,Davis.
Romeu Sub for Ward-Prowse at 69'mins.
Clasie Sub for Wanyama at 45'mins.
Tadic Sub for Mané at 45'mins,Pellè,Long.

Saints started very badly and were 2 goals down by half time and lucky to not be more behind, as Liverpool dominated the game.
Second half Ron Koeman made a good call with hie substitutions, Mane however missed a penalty. But then Score a goal, Pelle scored the game now at 2.2, then amazingly Mane scored again 3.2. A brilliant come back. Well done Saints who now have a rest before taking on Leicester

BBC link to Liverpool game. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35796778

Leicester V Southampton: Game played 3/4/16
Leicester 1 Saints 0

Saints line up: Forster,van Dijk,Fonte,Bertrand,Soares
Clasie(Sub for Austin 73'mins),Wanyama,
Targett(Sub for Tadic 45'mins),Davis(Sub for Ward-Prowse 73'mins)
Mané,Pellè.
A game Saints should have won with two hand balls by Leicester players in the Penalty area. Neither given. But also Leicester were a good team and on balance deserved to win. I think we can forget about Europe next season for Saints. Meanwhile Ron Koeman has entered discussions about staying on at Saints, as he has one year left on his contract. Hope he stays

BBC link to game: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35906375

Next game V Newcastle at St Mary's

Southampton V Newcastle game played 9/4/16
Saints 3 Toon 1
Saints line up: Forster,Martina,Fonte,van Dijk,Bertrand.
Clasie (Sub for Romeua 77'mins),Wanyama,Mané.
Long (Sub for Ward-Prowse 60'mins)
Tadic (Sub for Rodriguez at 84'mins),Pellè.

With goals from Long, and Pelle in the first half and Wanyama in the second. Southampton added to Newcastle's woes. It was great to see J Rodriguez playing again albeit only for a few minutes let's hope he is now going to be OK.

BBC link to game http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35949247

Next game v Everton at Goodison

Everton V Southampton Game played 16/4/16
Everton 1 Saints 1

Saints line up:Forster,Martina,Fonte (Sub for Yoshida at 38'mins)
van Dijk,Bertrand,Wanyama (Sub for Rodriguez at 72'mins)
Clasie,Tadic,Long,Mané,Pellè (Sub for Davis at 64'mins)
As nomal Saints hd the game by he scruff of the neck , but Everton Scored first. The result means goodbye to any European hopes we have this season.

Next game V Aston Villa who have been relegated so may fight like mad to show they are some good.

BBC link to Everton Game: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36003812

Aston Villa V Southampton : Game played 23/4/16
Aston Villa 2 Saints 4'

Saints line up: Forster,Soares,Fonte,van Dijk,Bertrand.
Romeu,Wanyama Sub for Clasie 45'mins,Davis.
Rodriguez Sub for Mané 70'mins,Tadic,Long.
With now three games to go Saints continue to try for place in Europe net season. Shane Long was man of the match. The last few months he has been great.

BBC link to Game:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36061070

Next match and last match at home V Man City

Southampton V Manchester City: Game played 1/5/16

Saints 4 City 2

Saints line up: Forster, Martina,Fonte,van Dijk,Bertrand,Wanyama
Clasie Sub for Romeu 59'mins,Mané,Davis Sub for Ward-Prowse 73'mins
Tadic Sub for Rodriguez 87'mins,Long;

Saints went into this game looking to win the last three games of the season and hope to qualify for the Europa league. They looked like hey mean business as well as he dominated to game. With Mane scoring a hattrick Long was great, and Tadic actually showed us he can do the job.
BBC link to game http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36122770

Next up Spurs Sunday 8/5/16

Spurs V Saints Game played 8/5/16

Spurs 1 Saints 2. BBC link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36180830

Saints v Crystal Palace Game played 15/5/16

Saints 4 Crystal Palace 1. BBC link http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36240425

Sorry not normal write up was away in Greece. Saints finished 6th in the league. AS Man Utd won won the FA cup, Saints enter the Europa League direct.

Meanwhile Ron Koeman is rumoured to be signing a two year contract. Mane staying, Long staying. Forster signed a 6 year deal, as did Ward-Prowse. We await on Wanyama

More soon

#We March On!

Up date: 1/7/16

Wanyama left for Spurs. Mane for Liverpool. Saints sign N Redmond from Norwich. Claude Puel is the ne manager, training has started more to come.

Claude Puel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Puel

Pre Season Friendlies:

Southampton picked up a comfortable victory in their first pre-season friendly, beating DC United Under-23s 2-0.

James Ward-Prowse’s 16th-minute strike looked like it would prove to be the difference, before a late penalty from Jay Rodriguez made the scoreline slightly more convincing.

Claude Puel named two different sides for each half at the RFK Stadium, with the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Ward-Prowse and new signing Nathan Redmond named in the side for the first half.

Southampton’s first opportunity fell the way of summer signing Redmond, but his shot was straight at home goalkeeper Neidermeier, who was able to make a comfortable save.

Neidermeier then produced an excellent save moments later to deny Dušan Tadić, who was being given the opportunity to roam in a free role by Saints boss Puel.

The opening goal did arrive soon after, as Ward-Prowse hammered the ball home on his left foot at the second attempt following a well-worked corner from the right.

Tadić was twice denied by Neidermeier as the half wore on, with Saints unable to extend their lead despite dominating the play in the searing heat.

A completely changed Saints side began on the front foot in the second half, with Olufela Olomola going close just moments after the restart.

The hosts created their first opportunity shortly after, but a volley from substitute Calix drifted narrowly wide of Harry Lewis’s goal.

Rodriguez – captaining Saints in the second half – was then denied by a smart block, before Lewis did well at the other end to deny Nahkid who had found space in the penalty area.

Saints continued to dominate possession and finally got a second goal when Rodriguez converted from the penalty spot following a foul in the area on Sam McQueen.

Puel will have been pleased with what he saw, as Saints worked hard and put into practice the new manager’s methods and ideas for the first time.

DC United Under-23s: Neidermeier, Ledder (Oberg 80), Manley, Ludwig, Dainkeh (Felipe 62), Rozhansky, Albrecht (Jean-Gilles 62), Hayes, Bustamante (Calix 46), Ebobisse, Nahkid (Pines 80).

Unused Substitutes: Palacios (GK), Kahsai, Garcia, Cunningham, Robinson.

Southampton First XI: Paulo Gazzaniga, Cuco Martina, Virgil van Dijk (c), Jordan Turnbull, Matt Targett, Oriol Romeu, Jordy Clasie, James Ward-Prowse, Nathan Redmond, Dušan Tadić, Charlie Austin.

Southampton Second XI: Harry Lewis, Yan Valery, Jack Stephens, Alfie Jones, Sam McQueen, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Josh Sims 65), Harrison Reed, Jake Hesketh, Lloyd Isgrove (Sam Gallagher 70), Jay Rodriguez, Olufela Olomola.

Goals: Ward-Prowse (16), Rodriguez (89)

Read more at http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/20160715-report-dc-united-under-23s-0-1-southampton-3188211.aspx#5RM8vmoFU8zGsu1p.99

Southampton made light work of PEC Zwolle, as Claude Puel’s men beat the Eredivisie side 4-0 in the first pre-season friendly of their trip to Holland.

A 14th-minute goal from Charlie Austin put Saints on their way, before a quick-fire double from Nathan Redmond just before the break put Puel’s men in complete control at half time.

Ten changes at the break somewhat disrupted Saints’ flow, but Puel will have been pleased with the efforts of Saints’ youngsters in the second period, especially with Pierre-Emile Højbjerg grabbed his first goal for the club from the penalty spot in the closing stages to complete the scoring.

Having only returned to training on Wednesday, Steven Davis, Shane Long, Ryan Bertrand and Fraser Forster were not involved against the Dutch outfit, while Dušan Tadić also missed out.

There was however a first start of pre-season for defender Maya Yoshida, while summer signing Redmond made his second start for Saints since his move from Norwich City.

Having opened the scoring in Saints’ first friendly of the summer, James Ward-Prowse almost repeated the feat inside the opening three minutes.

After Jordy Clasie had been fouled 25 yards from goal, Ward-Prowse’s curled free-kick was excellently saved by Kevin Begois in the PEC Zwolle goal.

The opening goal arrived just over ten minutes later. Oriol Romeu did well to win back possession before playing in Austin, who made no mistake from ten yards as he slipped the ball beyond Begois.

Saints were in control, but it took until a minute before the break for the second goal to arrive. When it did, it was an excellently worked team move, ending with Redmond grabbing his first goal for the club.

Matt Targett picked out Ward-Prowse’s forward run, with his flick finding Austin who teed up the onrushing Redmond to fire the ball low into the far corner.

Redmond’s second was all his own doing. It arrived two minutes later, as he cut inside from the right, beat two men and squeezed the ball into the corner of Begois’ net from just outside the box.

Paulo Gazzaniga, rarely tested in the first half, was the only man to return for the second period, as Puel made ten changes at the break.

Sam McQueen, playing at left-back again, was one of those introduced and he who almost added a fourth. His effort though was well saved by substitute goalkeeper Mickey van der Hart.

The hosts should have pulled one back with just over ten minutes remaining. A low ball into the box found an unmarked Ted van der Pavert five yards out, but the defender somehow managed to loop the ball over the crossbar.

Gazzaniga was then tested for the first time, as he kept substitute Ryan Thomas at bay following a defensive error from Saints.

It would be Saints who grabbed the game's fourth and final goal, however. Højbjerg netted his first goal for the club from the penalty spot after being fouled in the box, completing a positive evening's work for Puel's side in Holland.

Next up: FC Twente.

PEC Zwolle: Kevin Begois (Mickey van der Hart 46), Bram van Polen (c) (Bart Schenkeveld 68), Ted van de Pavert, Phillippe Sandler (Sander van Looy 63), Wout Brama, Youness Mokhtar (Kingsley Ehizibue 46), Anass Achahbar (Stefan Nijland 46), Queensy Menig (Ryan Jared Thomas 75), Mastour Hachim, Django Warmerdam (Tarik Evre 68), Mustafa Saymak (Athanasios Karagkounis 63).

Unused substitutes: Josef Kvida.

Southampton First XI: Paulo Gazzaniga, Cuco Martina, Maya Yoshida, Virgil van Dijk (c), Matt Targett, Oriol Romeu, Jordy Clasie, James Ward-Prowse, Jay Rodriguez, Nathan Redmond, Charlie Austin.

Southampton Second XI: Paulo Gazzaniga, Yan Valery, Jack Stephens, Alfie Jones, Sam McQueen, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Harrison Reed, Jake Hesketh (Jordan Turnbull 71), Lloyd Isgrove, Sam Gallagher, Olufela Olomola.

Unused substitutes: Harry Lewis (GK).

Goals: Austin (14), Redmond (44 & 45+1), Højbjerg (pen 88).

Read more at http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/20160723-report-pre-season-friendly-pec-zwolle-0-4-southampton-3203174.aspx#GAK57ckgCB5CbUry.99

Southampton picked up their third win of pre-season, as they beat Eredivisie side FC Twente 2-1 on Wednesday evening.

Virgil van Dijk’s 17th minute goal put Saints ahead, before substitute Sam Gallagher doubled the lead for Claude Puel's men with 20 minutes remaining.

Peet Bijen's goal, the first Saints had conceded in pre-season, made the last 15 minutes more interesting, but Saints held on to make it three wins from three.

Dušan Tadić and Cuco Martina both started against their former club, with the former back involved after missing the win over PEC Zwolle with a slight knock.

Saints almost conceded their first goal of pre-season inside the opening 90 seconds, as Fredrik Jensen was played through on goal, but he couldn’t find the target under pressure from Harry Lewis.

Twente danger man Hakim Ziyech then created another opportunity for the hosts, but he too placed the ball wide of Lewis’s far post.

The opening goal arrived in the 17th minute, and it was Saints’ number 17 who was the man to get it. Tadić’s deep cross found van Dijk unmarked at the back post, and the defender confidently volleyed the ball beyond Nick Marsman.

Saints, unlike in their first two pre-season games, made just four changes at half time, with Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse among those introduced.

After 15 minutes without any chances of note, Puel made wholesale changes, with the likes of Tadić and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg replaced by youngsters including Yan Valery and Jake Hesketh.

Half-time substitute Oriol Romeu, who set up the opener against PEC Zwolle on Saturday, then went close with a rasping drive, but his strike drifted just wide of the top corner.

The second goal for Saints came with just over 20 minutes remaining in rather fortuitous circumstances. Substitute Gallagher jumped with Marsman for the ball and managed to beat the goalkeeper to it who, along with a defender on the line, was unable to keep the ball out.

Saints conceded their first goal of pre-season with 15 minutes left, as Bijen found space at the back post to take a touch from a deep corner before firing into the roof of the net.

There was to be no late drama for Saints, as Puel's men made it three wins from three in pre-season ahead of Saturday's clash with FC Groningen at the Euroborg.

Next up: FC Groningen

FC Twente: Nick Marsman; Jeroen van der Lely (Hidde Ter Avest 46), Joachim Andersen (Giorgos Katsikas 65), Peet Bijen, Richard Jensen, Kamohelo Mokotjo, Jelle van der Hayden, Hakim Ziyech, Tim Hölscher, Jari Oosterwijk (Torgeir Børven 84), Fredrik Jensen (Ruben De Jager 74).

Unused substitutes: Jöel Drommel (GK), Brem Soumaoro, Bob Vankan, Cem Sahin, Sonny Stevens, Ben Aissa Ben Amar.

Goal: Bijen (75)

Southampton: Harry Lewis, Cuco Martina (Yan Valery 62), Maya Yoshida (Alfie Jones 62), Virgil van Dijk (c) (Jack Stephens (62), Sam McQueen (Matt Targett 46), Jordy Clasie (James Ward-Prowse 46), Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Jake Hesketh 62), Harrison Reed (Oriol Romeu 46), Dušan Tadić (Sam Gallagher 62), Charlie Austin (Nathan Redmond 46), Jay Rodriguez (Lloyd Isgrove 62).

Unused substitutes: Paulo Gazzaniga (GK), Olufela Olomola, Jordan Turnbull.

Goals: Van Dijk (17), Gallagher (69)

Read more at http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/20160727-report-fc-twente-1-2-southampton-pre-season-3211045.aspx#WBTybAIVYLKBeoFD.99

Saints finished off their pre-season tour to Holland with a 1-0 win over ten-man FC Groningen on Saturday afternoon.

Charlie Austin's 75th minute header was enough to make sure Claude Puel's men ended their week in the Netherlands with a perfect record, following the victories over PEC Zwolle and FC Twente earlier in the trip.

Puel handed Fraser Forster and Shane Long their first appearances of pre-season, at the Euroborg. Fellow EURO 2016 participants Steven Davis and Ryan Bertrand were not included, however, while Jay Rodriguez was also absent.

It was Groningen that started brightest, with Albert Rusnak cutting onto his right foot on the edge of the area and firing just wide after six minutes, while Jesper Drost shot over shortly afterwards from 18 yards.

Puel was forced into an early change, with Matt Targett picking up a knock in a challenge and needing to be replaced by Sam McQueen.

A series of bookings followed, with Oriol Romeu first carded for a late tackle on Hiariej, before the Groningen man got his own back a few minutes later and duly went into the book.

Hans Hateboer was the next man to be cautioned for the hosts, for a bad challenge on Nathan Redmond, and he was sent off seven minutes before the interval when he hauled down the Saints winger as he raced in behind, with referee Jochem Kamphuis showing him a second yellow.

James Ward-Prowse, who had earlier cleared a header off his own lie from a corner, nearly issued a double punishment, but his wicked free-kick was well tipped over by Sergio Padt in the Groningen goal.

Puel made three changes at the interval, as Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Jake Hesketh and Austin came on for Maya Yoshida, Dušan Tadić and Long.

Virgil van Dijk, up against his first professional club, attempted the spectacular shortly after the restart, but his long-range drive flew a few yards wide of the post.

Saints made more changes just after the hour mark, with Yan Valery, Sam Gallagher, Lloyd Isgrove and Harrison Reed all coming in, in place of Cuco Martina, Nathan Redmond, James Ward-Prowse and Jordy Clasie.

Reed nearly scored within moments of coming on, but his left-footed strike from 18 yards came back off the bar.

Van Dijk then went close with 20 minutes remaining, firing in a dipping free-kick that Padt had to parry clear, shortly after Jack Stephens had been sent on for Romeu.

Saints did finally make the extra man pay with 15 minutes left on the clock, as Austin rose to meet Jake Hesketh's cross from the left, with his header bouncing in off the far post to give Puel's men the win.

FC Groningen: Sergio Padt (c), Etiënne Reijnen, Jarchinio Antonia, Ruben Jenssen (Mimoun Mahi 68), Albert Rusnak, Jesper Drost (Tim Riksman 80), Tom van Weert (Danny Hoesen 57), Yoëll van Nieff (Roland Baas 85), Hedwiges Maduro, Tom Hiariej (Juninho Bacuna 63), Hans Hateboer.

Unused substitutes: Stefan van der Lei (GK).

Booked: Tom Hiariej, Hans Hateboer.

Sent off: Hans Hateboer.

Southampton: Fraser Forster, Maya Yoshida (Pierre-Emile Højbjerg 46), Jordy Clasie (Harrison Reed 63), Shane Long (Charlie Austin 46), Dušan Tadić (Jake Hesketh 46), Oriol Romeu (Jack Stephens 68), Cuco Martina (Yan Valery 63), James Ward-Prowse (Lloyd Isgrove 63), Virgil van Dijk (c) (Alfie Jones 83), Nathan Redmond (Sam Gallagher 63), Matt Targett (Sam McQueen 6).

Unused substitutes: Harry Lewis (GK).

Booked: Oriol Romeu.

Goal: Charlie Austin (75).

Read more at http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/20160730-report-pre-season-fc-groningen-0-1-southampton-3215703.aspx#SLV0dRVJQ63axgzV.99

Southampton were held to a 1-1 draw at St Mary’s by Spanish club Espanyol, as their preparations for the new Premier League season continued.

Oriol Romeu had set the hosts on the way with a first-half header, but his effort was cancelled out after the break by a Felipe Caicedo penalty, as Saints’ run of victories this summer was halted at four.

For manager Claude Puel and his team, it was another positive exercise, though, and they will now face one last test before the start of the new campaign, which begins at home to Watford on Saturday 13th August, with a game against another Spanish side, Athletic Club, at St Mary’s this Sunday.

Puel again went with a diamond in midfield, with Romeu at the base and Dušan Tadić at the head, with Nathan Redmond partnering Shane Long in attack.

Fraser Forster, making his second start of the summer, had to be alert to keep out Jose Reyes’s early shot from distance, while Marc Roque Junque bent a free-kick from 25 yards wide of the near post for the visitors.

Saints’ threat soon began to show, with Long beating Oscar Duarte to a ball down the inside-right and cutting it back to James Ward-Prowse, who skewed a first-time shot with his left foot into the body of Nathan Redmond, allowing Espanyol to clear.

Redmond then forced an excellent save from keeper Pau López in the 18th minute, drawing him into a superb stop low at his near post after Tadić had picked out his angled run across goal.

After Virgil van Dijk headed Tadić’s resulting corner wide, Saints nearly went behind, as Leo Baptista got free near the byline, only to slam a low shot onto the base of the post and away to safety.

Back at the other end, Tadić was presented with half a chance wh

Read more at http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/20160803-report-southampton-espanyol-3223796.aspx#0z0WfgxFEFzbdLE0.99

7 7th August 2016
Southampton rounded off their pre-season schedule with a 1-0 win against Athletic Club thanks to Shane Long’s first half goal at St Mary's.

In another useful workout for Claude Puel’s side ahead of their Premier League opener next weekend, the manager made one last check on his squad in a competitive contest against the Spaniards.

Long’s 43rd minute strike put the hosts in front during a half that Saints just about had the better of, with his well-taken one-on-one effort enough to separate the two sides.

There were four changes from the side that drew with Espanyol in midweek as Cuco Martina, Sam McQueen, Jordy Clasie and James Ward Prowse made way for Cédric, Matt Targett, Steven Davis and Pierre Højbjerg.

Saints started with a confident display in possession, with Redmond in particular, making a good early impression down the left side.

But it was the visitors who nearly stole a march in the 21st minute when Borja Viguera bore down on goal after robbing Oriol Romeu of possession, but Maya Yoshida got a vital touch on the ball to deny a shot at goal.

Viguera then also curled a strike wide of the target, before Saints stepped up their efforts in front of goal.

Redmond cut inside from the right to shoot from the edge of the area only to see his strike parried by Athletic ‘keeper Iago Herrerín, with Davis then following up with a fierce strike that cleared the crossbar.

Redmond then had what looked like would be the best chance of the half following a move that started from a deep position and ended with Tadić playing in the former Norwich man, whose clipped effort was deflected onto the post by Herrerín at the near post.

But a goal would follows soon after when another incisive piece of play saw Saints split Athletic’s backline when Steven Davis played in Shane Long, and the striker beat Herrerín from the edge of the area after the ‘keeper rushed off his line to meet him.

Claude Puel made four changes at half-time with José Fonte making his first appearance of pre-season for the second 45.

The crowd was treated to a marauding run from Virgil van Dijk shortly into the new half with the defender breaking into the area before seeing his attempted cutback for Long blocked.

Redmond and goal scorer Long were swapped for Charlie Austin and Jay Rodriguez who played the final 25 minutes of the game as the team’s front pairing.

And shortly after a flurry of substitutions from the visitors, Austin headed wide from fellow substitute Pied’s cross.

Despite the introduction of Athletic’s leading marksman Aritz Aduriz, Saints continued to look the brighter in front of goal, with Van Dijk heading wide at the near post from Ward-Prowse’s corner.

Saints were given a scare when Van Dijk went down injured, and although he was later replaced by Jack Stephens, there seemed to be no lasting effects from the knock as he made his way off.

Stephens helped Saints to confirm their clean sheet which saw Puel’s men take a win from their final warm-up fixture.

Southampton: Fraser Forster; Cédric (Jérémy Pied 46), Maya Yoshida (José Fonte 46), Virgil van Dijk (Jack Stephens 85), Matt Targett (Sam McQueen 74); Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Oriol Romeu (James Ward-Prowse 46), Steven Davis (Harrison Reed 74), Dušan Tadić (Jordy Clasie 46); Nathan Redmond (Charlie Austin 66), Shane Long (Jay Rodriguez 66)

Unused substitutes: Alex McCarthy (GK), Alfie Jones

Goal: Long (43)

Athletic Club: Iago Herrerín, Xabier Etxeita, Enric Saborit, Raúl Garcia (Mikel Vesga 46), Oscar Gil, Gorka Elustondo (Markel Susaeta 70), Guillermo Fernández (Javier Eraso 70), Ander Iturrapse (Mikel San José 70), Borja Viguera (Aritz Aduriz 70), Óscar De Marcos (Yeray Álvarez 46), Iker Munian

Unused substitutes: Gorka Iraizoz

Booked: Iturrapse (35)

Referee: Kevin Friend

Attendance: 17,758