Saints Cut The Mustard Against Dijon !
Saturday, 28th Jul 2018 17:20

Saints got back into winning ways in pre season with a win over French side Dijon FCO as we head into the final two weeks of preparation.

Mark Hughes will be pleased with the performance as Saints gained a comfortable win in France beating Dijon FCO by two goals to nil.

Hughes opted for a strongish side for the first half including a first start for Jannik Vesterfgaard and a return for Jan Bednarek after his summer at the World Cup, although there was no sign of Mario Lemina even on the bench.

Saints opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a well worked goal, Stuart Armstrong surged forward and then slid the ball for the overlapping Ryan Bertrand who crossed perfectly for Shane Long to fire home.

At the break Hughes made five changes including a debut for keeper Angus Gunn and the changes paid dividends straight away with Manolo Gabbiadini scoring after only 14 seconds of the re start,

Charlie Austin picking up a loose ball and found Gabbiadini who lofted it over the keeper to double the lead.

Saints were now in full control and made more changes in the 66th minute, with Harrison Reed, Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse replacing Sam McQueen, Romeu and Gabbiadini.

Angus Gunn had his first real work to do as the game went into the last twenty minutes and did it well to ensure a clean sheet.

All in all Mark Hughes will be pleased with not only the result but the manner of it, but he will know that like the previous games it is nothing more than another step towards the real work beginning in the final week before the Premier League opener against Burnley and that not too much should be read into anything just yet.

SOUTHAMPTON
1
ALEX MCCARTHY (GK)
ANGUS GUNN (46â€²)
6
WESLEY HOEDT
12
JANNIK VESTERGAARD
35
JAN BEDNAREK
JACK STEPHENS (46â€²)
21
RYAN BERTRAND (C)
MATT TARGETT (75â€²)
38
SAM MCQUEEN
HARRISON REED (66â€²)
14
ORIOL ROMEU
JAMES WARD-PROWSE (66â€²)
23
PIERRE-EMILE HÃ˜JBJERG
STEVEN DAVIS (46â€²)
17
STUART ARMSTRONG
MOHAMED ELYOUNOUSSI (46â€²)
7
SHANE LONG
CHARLIE AUSTIN (46â€²)
20
MANOLO GABBIADINI
NATHAN REDMOND (66â€²)
SUBSTITUTES
28
ANGUS GUNN
5
JACK STEPHENS
33
MATT TARGETT
25
HARRISON REED
8
STEVEN DAVIS
16
JAMES WARD-PROWSE
11
MOHAMED ELYOUNOUSSI
22
NATHAN REDMOND
27
SAM GALLAGHER
10
CHARLIE AUSTIN

Photo: Action Images via Reuters

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DPeps added 18:00 - Jul 28 Good to get the win and decent performance. I'm a bit concerned about the various stories linking Lemina with a move away. None of these stories are in sources I would necessarily trust, but I always get worried when it's our players because of past experience. Not that Lemina has been amazing so far, but I think he'll be much better next season
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A_Saint_in_Stoke added 18:13 - Jul 28 Pity that it seems like the decision has been made that Mario Lemina is to be sold! Let's face it - if Man city comes a calling then we can't compete with their pay scale! Just hope we make a good profit - so we are able to purchase a quality striker. Time will tell but we may have bought another gem in STUART ARMSTRONG.
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SanMarco added 19:48 - Jul 28 I knew we would get 'cut the mustard' and why not. Looks like we are selling Lemina - he needs replacing.
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green added 20:49 - Jul 28 Lemina was at the game today so read into that what you like.
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skiptonsaint added 21:53 - Jul 28

Bit of coincidence with Lemina, who lets face it looked like he didnâ€™t want to be here all last season especially when we were near the bottom.

Now with Armstrong and Reed back and with PEH and OR , even JS I feel could operate in this position we are ok in this position.

If we got 40m for Lemina and got 2 x 20m attacking bargains towards the end of the window, I feel we would be much closer to a top half finish squad

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mattthelegend added 22:01 - Jul 28 Good to get the win and good to see Gabbi and Long on the score sheet. Regarding Lemina I read he picked up a knock on Friday so was unable to play?
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VijicSaint added 12:22 - Jul 29 I am certain that Gabbi will score a good load for us this season if played enough. We could do with one other though who could weigh in with at least 12 goals. Can Austin or long do that?
4

DPeps added 14:27 - Jul 29 Vijicsaint - Long has only scored more than 10 goals twice when playing in the top flight, so probably not. Austin would score more than 12 a season... if he could stay fit
2

underweststand added 08:01 - Jul 30

Goals for Shane Long (even a tap-in) and Gabbiadini can only be good for their confidence. Noted the ref. gave 2 yellow cards (for Dijon players) so someone must have caused them a bit of strife to see warnings handed out in a friendly.

Still uncertain what will happen to Long this season , but the idea of losing Lemina may not be a tragedy. Good player but his talents seem wasted with Saints. Would be sorry to lose him- if he were to go, but we would recoup a goodly sum if he did.

If MH is impressed enough with their pre-season, we may see Reed and Hesketh asa part of the regular 24 squad (or is it 25?). Both Reed and Targett looked to be quite lively after their loan outs last season, but might still move before the season starts.