Saints struggled in the first half to break down Monaco and got caught by a sucker punch, but dominated the second to record their first win of the season in an emphatic style.
On Saturday against Wealdstone I reported that Saints appeared to be playing at 75% pace against a Watford side who were playing their last pre season game before their league season .
This game was against a Monaco side who were finishing up their pre season, but have a Champions League qualifier in a weeks time.
The Saints line up in the first half seemed to be a little bit of a fringe XI and they struggled in the first time to gel, but there were some notable performances, Adam Armstrong looked lively as did Yan Valery and Che Adams, however most of the attempts were from long range and didn't cause too much bother for the keeper.
But it was Monaco who took the lead when the ball got a bad bounce for Saints and it was hit home from close range by Golovin from 12 yards, Alex Mccarthy looking a little slow to react.
Thats how the score was at half time, but you could see that Saints were upping the tempo and they were back on level terms after some good work by Nathan Redmond who found Adam Armstrong who laid the ball back for Moi Elyounoussi who saw his shot well saved, however Armstrong was first to react as the ball fell free and nipped in behind a defender to poke home the equaliser.
This fired Saints up and as the subs came on they piled on the pressure, Mc carthy was a spectator for most of the second half and again good work on the right saw Joe Aribo cut the ball back for Stuart Armstrong who turned and fired the ball home from 12 yards.
Now it was only a question of how man and it was James Ward Prowse who swept the ball home after another good move down the right with Kyla Walker Peters picking him out after receiving a neat pass from Ibarahima Diallo who had a solid game.
Ralph Hasenhuttl will be happy with his team's night work, it was hard to find fault with anybody as the team revved up the work rate and attacking play, of course as I have said the result although pleasing means nothing, but those who played looked fired up and wanting to play, yes we lacked a little in front of goal but we have Mara to come in and that can only be good.
Ralph will be looking at his forward options and perhaps considering that Adam Armstrong has a role to play, Yan Valery did his chances no harm and even Moussa Djenepo looked threatening, I think he could well be an asset as a late sub coming off the bench.
The real bonus though was the players we had who played less than a half, this was very much a few first choice players, but mainly fringe players next season starting, not only did they show their positive attitude, but it was good to see the likes of Oriol Romeu and Stuart Armstrong looking like his former self, he looked like he wanted to be out there and these seems to be a spirit in the side.
We seemed to have balance of experienced Premier league players, the new signings raring to go and this seems to have rejuvenated some of those who have gone backwards a little in the past couple of years such as Remond & Valery, we just need a little leadership now at the back.
So a good nights work for Saints but we mustn't get too carried away, this is still only a friendly, but it is nice to see some positivity return to the squad and indeed surround the club.