Will Still has a different way of doing things and he likes a behind closed doors friendly, but it was still a surprise to find out that Saints would be playing Brighton twice today.

Ahead of the main event against Brighton, Saints took on the Seagulls behind closed doors on Saturday morning in a 60 minute game.

The Saints line up was

McCarthy, Sugawara, Kayi Sanda, Wood, Edwards, Welington, Matsuki (Akachukwu 47), Bragg, Dibling, Robinson, Stewart.

Jeremy Sarmiento's goal on 21 minutes for Brighton separated the sides in what was essentially a training exercise aimed at giving those players not involved in Saturday afternoon's friendly game time.

Some of the players involved in the game were named as substitutes for the afternoons fixture.

Perhaps giving more of an insight into Will Still's thinking was the fact that the following players were not named in either the morning match or for the afternoon.

Joe Aribo
Will Smallbone
Ben Brereton-Diaz
Mateus Fernandes (said to be ill)
Flynn Downes (not fit)
Taylor Harwood-Bellis (not fit)
Charlie Taylor (not fit)
Sam Edozie (not fit)

All Photos Via Reuters

Bowlercow added 22:54 - Aug 2 Certainly the first 3 in your list and Edozie look likely to be on their way out either as transfers or loans The four injured injured players added to the 22 starters could well be our squad come September Everything crossed that Fernandez and Dibling stay THB and F Downes definitely stayers
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underweststand added 11:37 - Aug 3 I never pay too much attention to " friendly games " - even those are aren't so friendly. At best they are unsophisticated kickabouts, with regular players expecting to hold onto their squad places, and young talents looking to show-up and get the manager's attention. The result doesn't cost the team any points, but to finish undefeated looks nice. This season is different with a new manager who is cleaning house and (presumably) gave everyone a clean sheet from Day 1. I'm sure he has decided on most of those who will be leaving , who to bring in and will be looking to spend a little on some new names. I think I was more interested to see the names of those who didn't get to play, rather than those who did get some minutes under their belts.

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