Southampton are up and running in Germany. A single first-half goal settled an entertaining friendly.
Damion Downs was the man who made it count. Played through around the 35th minute, the striker stayed onside, beat the goalkeeper, then dummied a sliding defender before rolling the ball home. It was a composed finish from a player described as short of chances lately.
A bright first half in the new white shirt
Eckert's side started on the front foot in the all-white third kit. Downs saw an early effort blocked, Lewis Dobbin flashed a volley wide, and Ben Brereton DÃaz thumped one narrowly off target. The tempo was Southampton's from the off.
Dobbin caught the eye through the middle and dropped deep to link play. One neat move saw Cam Bragg win the ball and feed him, and Dobbin's pass then released Leo Scienza into the box before a fine tackle denied the winger. Braunschweig had spells of their own, yet Daniel Peretz dealt with the set-piece threat calmly and punched clear when tested.
The hosts felt they should have levelled soon after the goal, Ehlers rising to a corner only to head just over the bar. Southampton kept probing. Jack Stephens, all commitment as ever, met a Scienza corner but could not direct his header, while Downs curled another effort wide after a flowing move. The Saints led at the break and merited it.
Wholesale changes and a return after the break
Eckert emptied his bench at the interval and sent out a completely fresh eleven. Shea Charles was among them, the midfielder getting his first minutes of pre-season after a summer of transfer noise. George Long took over in goal. Cameron Archer, Ryan Manning and a clutch of academy players also came on.
The younger names looked lively. Akachukwu forced a diving save with a dipping effort and stayed busy throughout, while Fellows burst clear to tee up Archer, whose deflected shot trickled wide. Archer was then denied by a smart low save, and Oyekunle headed a corner over when well placed.
Charles nearly marked his return in style. A first-time effort flashed close and forced the keeper to react. The changes broke up the rhythm late on, and Manning was booked for a late challenge that stopped a break. Southampton saw the rest out for a clean sheet.
None of it counts in the grand scheme of things. There was still plenty for Eckert to like. Downs got the goal his summer needed, Charles and the youngsters banked minutes, and a clean sheet rounded off a tidy night. He arrived from Köln with clear Premier League ambition. This was a timely reminder of what he can do.
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