News summary
Saints are up and running. Saturday's 2-0 win at Colchester sent them into round two of the Carabao Cup.
Both goals came from players who came off the bench. Cyle Larin got the opener when he met Ryan Manning's cross with his 'face' on 72 minutes!
Larin had only just rejoined training after his World Cup summer with Canada. Romeo Akachukwu got the second.
The youngster spent last season on loan at Colchester. Scoring against them gave him his first senior Saints goal.
Daniel Peretz kept the tie goalless with a fine triple save. It was his second debut for the club.
Tonda Eckert called the display "professional and mature" and pointed to his bench. He said it was important the side can "rely on the whole squad, with players contributing from the bench."
A place in round two is booked. The second-round draw is on Monday night.
Southampton's Championship season then opens away at Watford next Sunday.
Off the pitch, Eckert is still waiting on the FA over the training-ground filming that cost the club its play-off final. A fresh update points to a sanction that has not yet been issued.
Southampton also start the league season on minus four points after the EFL deduction. Promotion is the target from a standing start.
Transfer news
Fulham are closing in on Shea Charles in a move worth around £30m. Leeds United look set to miss out after two rejected bids.
The Northern Ireland midfielder is understood to favour the switch. Nothing has been signed yet, so the deal still needs finishing.
Incomings stayed quiet over the last day. The focus remained on possible outgoings.
Opposition watch
Colchester took the defeat well. Manager Danny Cowley felt his side gave a good account.
They pushed last season's play-off finalists hard and countered well before the two late goals.
Watford are up next for Saints. They warmed up with friendlies against Fiorentina and others, then opened their own cup run with a 1-0 win over Crawley.
Marc Bola's strike settled it at Vicarage Road on Saturday.
Saints Marching opinion
On the pitch, Saints made light work of a good League Two side, despite being made to wait for two late goals from off the bench.
Romeo Akachukwu is one to watch. He spent last season on loan at Colchester and buried his first senior Saints goal against them.
Off the pitch, the wait goes on over Eckert's FA sanction and Shea Charles's future. The lessons from last season are the ones to carry into this one.
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