Saints fielded separate elevens for the second time in four days as they entertained Gillingham at Staplewood earlier today in a pre-season double-header.
There were changes to the starting line-ups as Will Still shuffled the pack. Aaron Ramsdale came in to the starting eleven in place of Alex McCarthy in goal. James Bree and Jack Stephens held on to their places but Joshua Quarshie, who impressed on Saturday, partnered Stephens in the centre of defence. Welington took over from Charlie Taylor at left-back.
Flynn Downes started ahead of Shea Charles in the holding role
Flynn Downes was preferred to Shea Charles in the holding role. Will Smallbone kept his place in midfield, as did Ryan Fraser.
In attack, Saturday's standout player, Jay Robinson lined up on the left as Ben Brereton-Diaz made way. Cameron Archer was rewarded for his goal on Saturday as he came in for Ross Stewart alongside Saturday's other goal scorer, Adam Armstrong.
Whether anything can be read into Still's starting eleven is anybody's guess but it certainly feels like there is healthy competition for places, even at this early stage in pre-season.
Cameron Archer makes it two goals in two pre-season friendlies
Southampton won the first 60-minute match 1-0, courtesy of an emphatic low finish by Cameron Archer after Jack Stephens had a shot saved.
Ryan Fraser had earlier hit the bar with a lobbed shot from outside the box as he went through one on one with the keeper.
Saints came under late pressure. Aaron Ramsdale was forced to tip a dipping cross come shot over the bar and got a whack off the post into the bargain.
Similar to in Saturday's match at the Silverlake, Still rotated the teams almost entirely at half-time. The only player to stay on the pitch was Tyler Dibling who made way for the returning Joe Aribo after 15 minutes of the second match.
Ryan Manning got his first minutes of pre-season too, playing in his familar left-back position. Charlie Taylor was tried out alongside Nathan Wood in the centre of defence.
Karyu Matsuki impresses with another lively performance
Karyu Matsuki, who had been singled out for deserved praise after the Eastleigh match, was lively once again. Matsuki was "useful in the counter-press" (to use Still's words from Saturday) and made some great runs in behind. His dipping half-volley stung the palms of the Gillingham keeper in the second period of the match
Before that, Southampton had already scored twice. First, Ross Stewart capped a fine move involving Dibling and Edozie by angling a low shot into the far corner.
This was attacking football at it's simple, brilliant best. Dibling's delicate through ball to Edozie allowed the young winger to pick out Stewart with an inviting square pass.
Tyler Dibling shows his class with a sublime goal
Tyler Dibling made it two with a sublime left-footed shot from the edge of the box after fine work by Manning. This goal was all about the class of the execution.
Gillingham pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after a Saints player was penalised for shirt pulling. Gavin Bazunu was unable to lay a glove on the fierce spot-kick.
Karyu Matsuki capped a couple of promising appearances by notching his first goal for the Saints. It came after Joe Aribo, who had already hit the bar with a delightful curling shot, ghosted in behind the defence and cut the ball back across the area. Matsuki made no mistake from barely a yard out to secure a 3-1 win for the second XI.
The Southampton squad fly out to Spain on Monday 21st July and will face La Liga's Espanyol behind closed doors as part of their schedule.
Saints host Brighton at St Mary's on 2nd August in their final warm-up game ahead of the new EFL Championship season.
Saints First XI: Ramsdale; Bree, Stephens, Quarshie, Welington; Downes, Smallbone, Armstrong (Dibling, 30), Fraser, Robinson; Archer.
Saints Second XI: Bazunu; Sugawara, Wood, Taylor, Manning (Kayi Sanda, 45); Matsuki, Charles, Edozie, Dibling (Aribo, 15), Brereton Diaz; Stewart.