After the earlier behind closed warm up game came the real event and for an hour it did not look good for Saints, but then something clicked and in the end we came close to winning the game.

I know there were a few faces missing through injury, real or so called the cynics would say, but it seemed to me that Will Still is still a little unsure of just what his best side is, especially in defence and it was the defence that was found wanting a little too often in this game.

It still lacks leadership, experience and more importantly organisation and to be blunt age alone and games played doesn't automatically mean that you have those things.

Hence it seemed that Jack Stephens and James Bree were in there to give us those things, but haven't really got them and Ryan Manning isn't really that kind of player, this perhaps shows that Will Still is well aware of the problems, but he is finding out fast that he has a big lack of experienced leadership at the club.

Our best defenders as it stands barely have any experience at Championship level or in England, Suguwara, Ronnie Edwards, Joshua Quarshie, Welington, Joachim Kayim-Sanda even Nathan Wood only has around 70 games at Championship level or above.

It was almost as if Will Still was setting up certain players to fail and confirm to him he needs to make signings.

So in this game we once again get a performance that for 60 minutes or so we were completely overrun, time and time again Brighton came at us fast and getting men forward, constantly getting a man down our left on the overlap unchecked.

Going forward we looked like we weren't quite sure of what formation we were playing and we created little for whoever was up front in whatever formation.

So it was a miracle that we got in at half time only a goal down and that it took to the 65th minute for the Seagulls to get a second, Gavin Bazunu had a lot to do with that with several smart saves.

When they got that second goal, you feared for Saints, after all they had just made a triple substitution on 63 minutes and would we now lose shape completely.

Pleasantly the answer was that yes we could, we seemed for find a second gear and when Jay Robinson scored on 69 minutes, suddenly the home team were in charge on their own patch, something those Saints supporters who did turn up barely remembered.

The penalty on 73 minutes was soft, but it was put away by Adam Armstrong and no one was arguing, suddenly Saints looked a different team, not long after Shea Charles's deft header left the goalkeeper stranded but came back off the post.

In the final 20 minutes Saints looked likely to win it and the fans left with positive thoughts about the squad.

With regards to the game it was a decent result against a Premier League side, yes we struggled for 65 minutes, but we dug in and kept ourselves in with a chance of getting a result and in the end did so, that showed character and that was a good sign.

But with regards to team selection I felt that Will Still knows he is in a quandary, in defence he has a lot of bodies but as I say no leadership and experience, I think he feels that Joshua Quarshie will be a key player this season, he is big strong and fast, but who does he play alongside him ?

Ronnie Edwards is very good, but still only 22 and most of his games have been in League 1, Nathan Wood is a year older, but has less games to his name, so that leaves Jack Stephens and potentially Taylor Harwood-Bellis if Still is to play a two man central defensive line up.

Pre season has clearly shown that Captain Jack is not up to the job, so given the fact that Taylor Harwood-Bellis has only just returned to training to will play little part in August's fixtures whether he stays or goes, what does Will Still do ? does he throw in Wood or Edwards alongside Quarshie, play a wild card in Charlie Taylor if fit or does he stick with Stephens.

Likewise at full back, in this game Sugawara looked good when replacing James Bree and on the left I don't think Ryan Manning had a bad game given that he was badly exposed on the left, but when Welington came on he looked good.

So there were plenty of plus points about this game, the form of Gavin Bazunu would not be overlooked, he made several very good saves and did well in other areas of goalkeeping sometimes under rated, Joshua Quarshie looked the big and strong player we really needed last season, Shea Charles was in a rather makeshift midfield, but will be a big player this season, Jay Robinson took his goal well and improves with every game, the forwards never got the service, but worked hard.

So a few decisions to be made by Will Still in the next week, not made easier by the fact that he is still unsure who will be staying or going or indeed who will be coming in.

In pre season I have had the feeling that the manager was looking and assessing rather than trying to put together what he sees as his first choice team, I think he things doing that is futile given the variables on who will be leaving or not.

I think he is working out the different permutations and looking at how his squad is reacting, like Russell Martin two years ago, it is essentially about getting through August unscathed and only then can you start to work for the rest of the season.

Now we will start to see whether Will Still really has something about him or whether he is another young coach who has some good theories but in practice cant put them into play.

I think the difference between Will Still and Russell Martin, is that he can and will adapt, he can change tactics, change formation and ultimately change games as he did with this friendly against Brighton.

Let's all hope I am right

All Photos Via Reuters

Bowlercow added 12:01 - Aug 3 I was a bit disappointed by the lack of a high press in the first hour and the service to the front line non existant The subs certainly looked sharper.Considering some of them had played 60 minutes in the morning they looked up for it The defence needs to get settled.That combination of GK and 2 CBs is crucial For me it would be Baz Quashie and Edwards next week and then THB and JQ going forward Unfortunately,because he sees him as experienced,I think he will go with Captain Jack If fit Flyn & Shea as holding players although Sesay has given some top performances and should be in the matchday squad M/F 3 Must include Robinson probably with Fernandez, or if gone Matsuki ,and for his work rate AA Archer up front for 60 mins and then DD for the last 30 until he is fully upto championship pace

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Boris1977 added 13:32 - Aug 3 Bree and Stephens are only back up squad players, as much as I love the latter for his passion. Neither should be in the starting 11 unless there is an injury crisis. On the GK front we don't have much choice as first choice which is why we need to ensure that the best CBs protect him to ensure all bazuna has to do most matches is to deliver the ball rather than save it (both goals were bazuna specials yesterday). Hopefully we don't buy any more of man city's cr@p ever again. I like many others am tired of the last 3 seasons of players getting into the team of the basis of 'experience' and being loved by the manager. Hopefully Will still pick players on merit not based on his pets. He's not their pal he's their boss. COYRs

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Slacker added 13:40 - Aug 3 Are you underestimating Ronnie Edwards Nick. You mention that he has played most of his games in league one. Didn't he win the player of the year for QPR in the Championship last season? He looks like he reads the game very well to me and is disciplined rather than reckless. I think its between him Harwood Bellis and Quarshie as centre backs then Wood. All of which is undermined if Stills dosent get the fullbacks sorted. Midfield defending is still a challenge at the moment but could be sorted with Downes - Charles and Rodriguez.

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highfield49 added 13:44 - Aug 3 Are there any supporters who believe that Jack Stephens should be a first choice pick for anything? I genuinely feel sorry for Jack because his confidence must have taken a battering but, at his age, he is not going to improve and the errors will become more costly. The manager is now having to make a tough decision that will impact not only on Jack but also the entire team. Whether Jack is selected or not the choice could have negative outcomes for the player. I'd probably smooth the ground by giving him a seat on the bench and see if he's willing to motivate others and use his club captain status to positive effect. By lifting the disappointment of players substituted and calming the nerves of new players around him he could actually become more of a leader. Other than that, it's going to interesting to see the team sheet for the opening match because there are so many options to consider. Whoever plays we can only ask for 100% and proper direction from the coaching team.

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Block8 added 16:56 - Aug 3 First half we quite literally played 4-2-4, our forwards in a line across their back four. We couldn't hold the ball & it kept coming back through our completely outnumbered midfield. I thought Seesay & Charles done very well considering the lack of help offered to them. When we made the changes it allowed us to gain control in the middle of the park and start to create momentum. As much as I'm not a Fraser fan, he looked good when dropped a bit deeper. Robinson was able to take advantage of the gaps left in front of Brighton's defence. Still wondering if Will knows his best team or formation yet?

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