Two more individual errors by Saints' captain Jack Stephens cost Southampton badly as they were beaten 2-1 by Espanyol in Spain this morning.
Southampton started brightly in a competitive pre-season match at Espanyol's training ground in Barcelona.
Saints remained unchanged except for goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale coming in for Gavin Bazunu.
This meant that Saints lined up with, Ramsdale in goal; Ronnie Edwards at right-back; Jack Stephens and Joshua Quarshie in the centre of defence; and Welington at left-back.
In midfield, Shea Charles and Mateus Fernandes started in midfield with Ryan Fraser playing in an attacking midfield role behind the front three.
Up front, Ben Brereton Diaz was on the left, Adam Armstrong out on the right, and Cameron Archer through the middle.
It was Brereton Diaz who had the first chance of the match when he found room inside the box on the left. Sadly he was unable to get the ball under control and could only poke an attempt goalwards which was easily blocked.
Aaron Ramsdale was called into action mid-way through the first half when Espanyol's Edu Exposito curled a left-footed shot from range toward the top left hand corner. Ramsdale flung himself to his right to keep out the effort.
Shea Charles continued his brilliant pre-season, popping up everywhere in both attack and defence.
Ryan Fraser wastes two chances in attack
On the half-hour, Ryan Fraser wasted a good opportunity to cross after linking up well with Charles down the left.
A few minutes later, Fraser found himself in space again but dragged his shot tamely wide from a central area.
Adam Armstrong had Saints' first shot on target in the 39th minute, stinging the hands of Dimitrovic, after being fed by the lively Cameron Archer.
In the centre of defence, Joshua Quarshie was outstanding in the first-half. His physical presence resulted in him winning everything in the air and on the ground. In possession, he created Brereton Diaz's early effort with a lofted pass.
Half-Time: Southampton 0 - 0 Espanyol
Jay Robinson and James Bree came on for Brereton Diaz and Joshua Quarshie at half-time. Bree lined-up at right-back as Edwards moved inside to partner Stephens in the centre of defence.
The Parakeets started the second-half brightly and nearly won a penalty when Bree looked to have pulled Salinas back inside the six-yard box.
Bree's positioning and attacking intent enabled Southampton to get forward down the right and Robinson looked at immediate upgrade on Brereton Diaz.
Ryan Manning, Nathan Wood, Damion Downs and Moses Sesay replaced Welington, Edwards, Fernandes and Archer.
Ramsdale dealt with another Espanyol effort in the 65th minute, getting down smartly to his left to save and hold on to a shot from the edge of the area.
Espanyol 1-0 Saints
Javi Puado put the home side in front after 70 minutes when Jack Stephens failed to deal with a through ball properly. Stephens could only divert the ball into Puado's path 12 yards out where he dispatched the shot low past Ramsdale.
Ross Stewart replaced Adam Armstrong with fifteen minutes left on the clock as Saints re-shuffled the pack.
Espanyol 2-0 Saints
A few minutes later Stephens was adjudged to have caught an Espanyol player with a flailing arm and Puado sent Ramsdale the wrong way from the spot.
Espanyol controlled possession in the final ten minutes as Saints struggled to get on the ball and create anything.
Jay Robinson did find room with three minutes left in the clock and drifted a teasing cross beyond the far post where Fraser blasted over when he should really have done much better.
Espanyol 2-1 Saints
A minute into injury time Robinson threaded a ball through to debutant Damion Downs who slammed the ball into the bottom left hand corner.
Downs' goal capped a solid performance from the Saints as individual mistakes by Jack Stephens ultimately cost his team. Jay Robinson's introduction in the second-half made a positive difference going forward.
Joshua Quarshie and Shea Charles continued their excellent pre-season preparations and must surely be in Will Still's plans.
Ramsdale - 6
Edwards - 6
Stephens - 4
Quarshie - 8
Fernandes - 6
Charles - 8
Fraser - 5
Brereton-Diaz - 5
Archer - 6
Armstrong - 5
Robinson - 7
Downs - 7
Bree - 6
Wood - 5
Manning - 5
Sesay -5
Stewart - 5