It was all change at Half time for Saints at Klagenfurt but it was no change in the score line by the end of the game as although we had the better chances we failed to take them including a missed penalty.
The first thing to recognise is that this was all part of the summer training camp although judging by social media this was a cup final that we lost according to some fans, the first half saw a line up that potentially only included two players likely to start the season in the first XI in Oriol Romeo and Che Adams.
There were a couple of good chances though with the woodwork being hit twice, but the emphasis was on passing the ball and getting used to a new way of playing.
Half time saw all change aside from Alex McCarthy who played the entire game, this saw the tempo picked up and Saints dominated and should have taken the lead but Adam Armstrong saw his penalty saved.
Social media was awash after the game with Saints fans predicting doom and gloom this coming season, however given that this was a mixed bag of players not a lot can be taken from the result and it was clear to the 150 or so Saints fans present that they were not witnessing a side looking to win the game, but two sides looking to get a feeling for the ball and the new formations that Ralph Hasenhuttl will want to employ this season.
Of course we want to see results go our way pre season, but that isn’t the main aim and we know our business in the transfer window isn’t done yet, we need a striker so there is no use bemoaning a lack of goals until either we have a striker come in who doesn’t score or we have failed to sign one, with three weeks to go before the season starts there is still a long way to go in our preparations.
So there were enough positives from this game to give hope for the season, the squad is bigger and has more depth, it just needs to see a quality striker arrive.