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Saints At FC Twente ! Dan's Report !

Our regualr columnist Dan has been watching the 2-1 win in Holland against FC Twente, read what he has to say about the game.

Once again Saints came out on top in their third match of pre-season, their second against an Eriedivisie side whilst on tour in Holland, this time playing last season’s 13th placed FC Twente.

Like most pre-season games, this one had a high lack of entertainment and was more a fitness test for the coaches of the club but it’s always satisfying (for me at least) when Southampton win a football match friendly or competitive.

The game had a dull start up until a key moment when Virgil van Dijk converted Dusan Tadic’s cross to make the score 1-0 around the 17 minute mark in favour of the visitors.

I think most fans who have seen snippets or whole games of Saints’ pre-season fixtures would agree with me that FC Twente were the most challenging opponent so far out of the three they’ve faced.

The second (and final) highlight of the first half was when a Twente player continued to battle against Sam McQueen ,who was playing left-back, and then skinned him to cross the ball but a Twente player couldn’t convert the player’s hard-work.

Four substitutions where made at half-time and didn’t make the game much more interesting except for when Sam Gallagher headed the ball, the keeper caught it but it somehow made it’s way into the back of the net and was given as a goal! Awful refereeing.

Twente did seem on top in the final 15 or 20 minutes as Peet Bijen halved the deficit making the score 1-2 but couldn’t get an equaliser, nor could the visitors find an extra goal. A dull game but a third win in a row as the new season edges ever closer.

Man of the Match: For me, even though he played only in the second half, was Nathan Redmond. Watching him got me excited for seeing him play at St.Mary’s. He was dribbling and covering loads of ground as his pace took him further and further but I could also spot him helping with defensive duties and tracking-back. He should be an exciting player to watch this season as he is as confident on his left foot as his right, however he has a big task as Sadio Mane’s boots will be big ones to fill.

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