Southampton were without several key players as they lined up to face Brighton in the Saints' final warm-up match before the Championship season kicks off in earnest against Wrexham next Saturday.
The confirmed departure of Aaron Ramsdale on loan to Newcastle today has presented Gavin Bazunu with an opportunity to stake his claim as Saints' number 1 for the Champrionship campaign. The Irishman did not disappoint.
Manager Will Still continued with the defensive pairing of Jack Stephens and Joshua Quarshie, preferring James Bree to Yukinari Sugawara at right-back. Ryan Manning got the nod at left-back ahead of Welington who can consider himself unlucky not to have made the starting line-up.
This was probably Ryan Fraser's best game of pre-season
In midfield, the hugely impressive Shea Charles kept his place beside Moses Sesay who has forced himself into the team in the absence of Mateus Fernandes and Flynn Downes. Ryan Fraser continued in the attacking midfielder role and this was probably his best game of pre-season.
Up front, Archer and Armstrong lined up either side of Damion Downs, who was getting his first taste of action on the St Mary's surface.
Southampton were outclassed in the first-half by the Premier League side who sliced the Saints open almost at will. Down their right hand side, Yankuba Minteh was a constant nuisance and he had the beating of Saints' full-back Ryan Manning.
It was no surprise at all when Minteh put the visitors ahead midway through the first-half with a beautifully crafted low curling shot into the bottom left-hand corner. That he had the audacity to do the exact same thing to make it 2-0 early in the second-half was more surprising.
Jay Robinson injected guile and urgency when he came on
But this Southampton team appears more resilient these days and manager Still was not afraid to change things to get his side back into the game today. Substitute Jay Robinson injected some guile and urgency when he replaced Downs with about half-an-hour left on the clock.
The introduction of Ronnie Edwards as a third centre-back meant that the two substituted on full-backs (Sugawara and Welington) were able to push forward. Quarshie brought the ball out of defence like Franz Beckenbauer (might just be stretching things a bit there) while Shea Charles started to launch pin-point 60-yard cross-field passes.
Ryan Fraser started to pop up on both flanks and got some telling crosses into the box, one of which almost ended up with Shea Charles securing Saints an unlikely victory.
It was Robinson who scored Saints' first with a deflected effort from just inside the penalty area. A flash of skill helped him to create the room for a shot; a deflection off Lewis Dunk's back helped the ball into the net beyond a despairing Steele in the Brighton goal.
Southampton's equalising goal came courtesy of a penalty, dubiously given but expertly dispatched. Adam Armstrong's low and unerring drive past Steele's right glove earned the Saints a share of the spoils in an encouraging and hugely entertaining prelude to next Satuday's Championship curtain-raiser.
Southampton 2-2 Brighton player ratings
Goalkeeper & Defenders
Gavin Bazunu (GK) - 8/10 - Bazunu has been the pick of the Saints keepers during pre-season and today was his best game of them all. An early flying save was an indication that he would have a busy afternoon and so it proved. Bazunu's handling and distripution was secure and his positioning enabled the defence to maintain a high line.
James Bree (RB) - 5.5/10 - Bree's best moments came in attack, particularly his free-kick delivery. Defensively, he lost an individual duel with Mitoma which almost led to a goal. Went off injured after 54 minutes.
Jack Stephens (CB) - 7/10 - A much better performance from the Southampton captain today. Stephens moved the ball quicker and won most of his duels. He looks to be building a promising partnership alongside Joshua Quarshie.
Joshua Quarshie (CB) - 7/10 - Quarshie is quickly becoming one of the first names on the teamsheet for Southampton. He showed his attacking threat from set pieces, almost opening the scoring with a headed effort early on. In possession, Quashie looked very composed. Made to look a little silly when Minteh threaded the ball between his legs to score his (and Brighton's) second goal.
Ryan Manning (LB) - 5/10 - Manning was exposed by Minteh's movement and pace all afternoon. Stuck to his task well but outclassed.
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