Saints made it three wins in a row as they continued the warm up to the 2014/15 campaign on English soil for the first time.

Ronald Koeman mixed and matched a very youthful Saints squad for the visit to Swindon Town, with several experienced names missing he chose to not only give youth a chance but opted to keep the side fairly intact at half time.

Perhaps Koeman was loathe to play certain players given that Anton Rodgers started the game for Swindon, making his debut after being released by Oldham Athletic, usually not something to bother Saints except for the fact that this was the son of Liverpool manager Brendon Rodgers and Koeman probably didnt want to run the risk of any of his players being tapped up by Rodgers junior.

This was a game that was more about keeping the progress going rather than taking too much from the result but that did go Saints way when Jos Hooivelt scored from close range after 51 minutes.

Apart from that the game was pretty much uneventful and played before a sparse crowd of only 3,958 including 908 Saints fans.

Plus points were that again the youth came through the test well and several could play big parts this season, however Saints fans want to see a little more action from senior players and it seems Koeman is preferring to keep his powder dry in putting out his big guns, but with only three public pre season games left perhaps he is preferring to blood the team in closed door friendlies.

Photo: Action Images

dirk_doone added 22:49 - Jul 21 There were 908 Saints fans, Nick. The total attendance was 3,958.
0

SaintNick added 22:54 - Jul 21 blame the official saints club site they give the attendance as 908 they dont say its the away fans, your right though the swindon town site gives the correct one
0

slynch added 23:11 - Jul 21 They're gonna get trashed if they play like that! But it was only a practice match but it's getting awfully close to a real match.
1

SaintNick added 23:28 - Jul 21 I wouldnt get carried away either way, these results mean nothing, I have seen some brilliant pre seasons followed by appalling starts and vice versa
-1

SaintNick50 added 13:56 - Jul 22 Good to see Billy Sharp given a run out, and even Mayuka looked lively!
0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Southampton Polls