Report: Saint-Étienne 0-3 Saints

Two second-half goals in two minutes from Manolo Gabbiadni and James Ward-Prowse gave Saints the lead they had deserved, before Yoshida then headed in five minutes from time to complete the 3-0 win.

Mauricio Pellegrino named a strong starting eleven to face the French side at the Stade Municipal de Chambéry, with Ryan Bertrand coming in at left-back to make his first start of pre-season.

Jérémy Píed lined up in the other full-back position, and it was the Frenchman that created Southampton’s first real change of the game. Bursting forward down the right flank he drove into the penalty area and struck at goal, only to be denied by Stéphane Ruffier in goal for the hosts.

The next chance fell rather fortuitously to Manolo Gabbiadini. The Italian latched onto a loose ball across the Saint-Étienne back line and stretched to provide a finishing touch, but the ball was just too far ahead of the striker.

Píed was continuing to wreak havoc down the right flank and almost helped to break the deadlock once again just before half time. Having dummied past his man from a short corner, the right back crossed for Maya Yoshida to head at goal, but the Saints captain saw his header flash wide of the near post.

Pellegrino made just one change at the interval, as Stuart Taylor replaced Fraser Forster in goal to make his Southampton debut.

And the veteran goalkeeper was called straight into action after Jonathan Bamba struck the foot of the post following a neat piece of interplay on the edge of the Saints penalty area.

At the other end, Sofiane Boufal came close with a diving header at the back post following a deep cross from Dušan Tadič, though he too was denied by Ruffier.

The opener then came after 64 minutes. Fresh from being introduced, Matt Targett drove down the left channel and crossed for Gabbiadini to head superbly into the top corner to give Saints the lead.

Just two minutes later the lead had been doubled. Once again Targett provided the cross into the area, but this time fellow substitute James Ward-Prowse was the man to provide the vital touch with a low finish into the back of the net.

At this point, Saints were really looking dominant and they eventually got a third before the full-time whistle.

Ward-Prowse followed the theme of scorer turning provider, as his out-swinging corner was headed in by Yoshida to seal a 3-0 victory and cap off an excellent week for Saints in France.