Saints went to the Silverlake to take on the Spitfires and most assumed that it would be the walkover that occurred last year, this did not quite prove to be the case for Will Still's first game in charge, but was it more about the performance than the actual result ?

A year ago when we took on our near neighbours it ended with a 7-1 victory for Southampton and it could have been double figures, many were expecting another rout, but that did not turn out to be the case, but this year was in completely different circumstances.

Russell Martin took his side to the Silverlake last year with a squad that was fully formed after winning promotion and knew very well the style he wanted to play and they had had a season of playing it.

So it was no surprise that organisation and fitness proved too much for an Eastleigh side themselves in transition.

But this season was different, Will Still has a big bloated squad that he has only been working with for under a fortnight, it is also a squad where the manager doesn't know who will be here and won't be and that is going to be the case right up to the end of the transfer window.

Also the new manager was missing players who had been away on international duty during the summer, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Fernandez, new signing Damion Downs & Ronnie Edwards,

So unlike last year this was never going to be a well drilled performance, it was always going to be about a squad and manager finding their feet.

The first half saw Eastleigh take the lead after only 3 minutes, going on the break and catching the Saints defence cold.

From then on it was pretty similar to the game a year ago, in that Saints controlled the game and had plenty of the ball, but unlike last year they faced an Eastleigh side who played as if it was an FA Cup tie, throwing themselves into every tackle and blocking the ball when a chance arose.

It looked like Saints would go in 1-0 down at the break, but then on the stroke of half time, Shea Charles was tackled just inside the box and when he went down the ref pointed to the spot.

On watching replays it was a harsh decision, it needed VAR to sort this one out, but in the absence of that, Adam Armstrong smashed the ball home from the penalty spot to put Saints in all square at the half way mark, in truth it was deserved even though it took a controversial for Eastleigh fans at least, decision to enable it.

The second half saw a complete new side put out there and for most of the half it was almost like playing attack versus defence in training, with Eastleigh pinned back for most of the half.

As Eastleigh made their own changes as the half wore on, the Southampton domination continued but the goals did not come, there were plenty of good chances, but Eastleigh were still playing as if their lives depended on it and refused to give in.

The second goal came on 75 minutes and it was Cameron Archer who scored the first goal in open play for Will Still.

Many hoped the floodgates would open in the final quarter of an hour, but although there were plenty of chances, the score stayed at 2-1.

So what did we learn from this game ?

Firstly that the second half team played better than the first half, but that was to be expected, if only because of the better quality of our subs than Eastleigh's.

It also showed that we have some promising youngsters coming through, both home grown and bought, Jay Robinson looked the part, Joachim Kayi Sanda and Joshua Quarshie plus Kayu Matsuki all impressed.

There were also some out there that have a point to prove who could play a big part this coming season, Shea Charles, Cameron Archer, Nathan Wood & Sam Edozie.

So this game was never going to be about the actual result, it was always going to be about finding our feet and perhaps reminding ourselves that we still have the foundations from the side that won us promotion two years ago, but we have also built on that.

We have trimmed some of the chafe from the squad and we can spend to bring in a player of two where needed.

So more positives than negatives from this performance, of course it is not a complete barometer for the season, the gulf between the Championship and the National League is perhaps wider than that between the Championship and the Premier League, but this was a good work out and now we move forward again.

All Photos Via Reuters

halftimeorange added 11:22 - Jul 14 This game, played in extremely uncomfortable weather conditions, was little more than, in the first half, the starting eleven still sleepy after coming out of hibernation and the second introducing younger, more energetic rivals wanting to display their talents. It is impossible to draw any conclusions, other than Jay Robinson showing that he is still in the form that earned him some game time at the end of last season.

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underweststand added 11:33 - Jul 14 I think some of the first half group would have been glad to come off at HT. The youngsters in the second half all knew they had something to prove and took their opportunities. Maybe better "verdicts" of the team performances after a few more practice games.
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bartley41 added 12:10 - Jul 14 A very balanced Verdict, thank you. Some of he best Football I have seen for some time is the Ladies Spanish Team. Fast , fit energetic, slick and they can use both feet , excellent, Football as it should be played! No wonder they are World Champions, they would have given Russell Martins Saints a thrashing!
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Bowlercow added 13:56 - Jul 14 At times they played a Russellesque type of game Playing out from the back with sideways and backwards passes Neither GK was seriously tested and the goal in 2 minutes should have been cut out before it even got into the box. Stevens had an excellent view of it but didn't move until it was too late. Ourbest full backs were Sugawara and Wellington and the 2 best CBs were Quashie and Sanda The 2 in front of the back four should be Downs and Charles but then it gets tricky Is Fernandez staying?If so he would be the obvious choice but Matsuki had a fair game Lots of combinations up front but none look especially good just yet They overloaded one side whe going forward which created space on the opposite flank Very much what I expected from a Will Still sid

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