A good win at Preston North End for Saints with a run out with a combination of young and old featuring.

Ralph Hasenhuttl put out an experienced but mixed side with both Michael Obafemi and Wesley Hoedt returning to the starting line up after long absences with Will Smallbone also starting.

Danny Ings now a permanent Saints player opened the scoring with a clearance ricocheting off his legs and past the keeper but the scores were soon level.

The lead was restored on the stroke of half time when Ryan Bertrand crossed and it was Ins again who was there to head home.

In the second half Ralph rang a few changes and it was one of those Jake Vokins who scored the 3rd and it turned out the final goal of the match to give Saints a comfortable win.

This time out Ralph started with three central defenders Wesley Hoed being partnered with Jan Bednarek and Jack Stephens, with Christophe Klarer coming on for the final 20 minutes.

Again with this being only the second of the pre season games this was more about the manager finding out a few things about his squad than about the result, but having said that it was a satisfying win.

Now the squad splits for a few days with some heading to Macau and the rest to Dublin before the first real retest of pre season against Feyenoord next Sunday.

Pre season is hitting up the squad is beginning to take shape and all we need now is a few outgoing and several in comers.

Photo: Action Images

Wembley76 added 11:35 - Jul 21 Pleased to see Wesley Hoedt get 90 mins under his belt 👍 With luck, the first step in his "rehabilitation" programme at St Mary's; rather than anything else.
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TimSaint added 12:48 - Jul 21 Will Hoedt now post derogatory social media comments about the goal our defence conceded - just like he did when we conceded 3 at Newcastle ?
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underweststand added 14:33 - Jul 21 Yes- Hoedt got a full game and a chance for Ralph to make a decision / change his mind about his future . PNE are hardly "class opposition" and it was only a friendly run out. ..but we'll see . Good for the younger players to get game time...Obafemi nees to learn more about calm finishing after he outpaces defenders. Smallbone, Sims and Vokins did themselves no harm at all, and impressed enough to have Ralph keep them around the first team squad. Cologne will be a better test of the teams overall capabilities and perhaps another chance for Hoedt to show if he's good enough to stay in the squad this season

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HythePeer added 16:33 - Jul 21 Only saw highlights. Best I've seen them play.
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vanmans added 17:30 - Jul 21 I like your last sentence Nick [squad is beginning to take shape and all we need now is a few outgoing and several in comers.]
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Jack_flash1975 added 22:39 - Jul 21 I noticed when the CB who I think is called Klarer (tall lad with blonde hair) got subbed on he was very strong at the back winning headers and slid in to block a shot on goal that would have surely been a goal for PNE. Not enough time to make a huge impact but the feeling in my water is not a wee infection, I think he could be decent over the next few seasons... and I am not his intermediary. 😁 I am happy to be corrected on that one as I have not seen many u23 games.

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bstokesaint added 12:38 - Jul 22 It’s always nice to win games, but as others have pointed out PNE are really just a fitness test. I would expect Hoedt and Stephens to be able to cope with them. I think we’ve already seen enough from both to know that neither can cope with the PL’s elite. The longer we go on without getting in quality replacements the more I worry about the coming season. The fact that we’ve failed to adequately strengthen the past couple of seasons too doesn’t make me feel too confident this one will be any different. Ralph may be the next level up from a managerial perspective, but he needs the right kind of ‘tools’ to work with. Or he’ll be off.

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SaintBrock added 16:39 - Jul 27 It was Klarer, jack flash and those of us that have been following the U23s have seen his potential and pace of development for a while now. It's no good saying he is still a kid as he isn't that much different to Bednarek, if they're good enough they are old enough in football terms that is. He will put some real pressure on the on the others but may find it difficult to break through as all our CBs are relatively young and hungry and out trusty warhorse Maya will not cede his place easily. Probably spells the end od Stephens' time here 'though. As for the game, great start and some very nice and impressive movement and passing on show

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KriSaint added 22:57 - Aug 1 I agree that Klarer looks very interesting. And I think Bednarek will have a good season. If only he had some more pace... The same goes for Vestergaard.
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