Russell Martin rang the changes when selecting his Southampton side to face Cardiff City in the second round of the Carabao Cup and chaos ensued as the Saints won 5-3.
It was not just a change of personnel, but a change of shape too as Russell Martin reverted to the 4-3-3 he preferred last season rather than the 3-5-2 Southampton have used so far this campaign.
Southampton scored their first goal of the new season after just ten minutes, with Mateus Fernandes taking his opportunity with a neat finish to kickstart the flurry of goals.
That will have come as a relief for Russell Martin after watching his side draw blanks against both Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.
However, the scores were level after 22 minutes as Ruben Colwill took everyone by surprise with a stunning striker from range that crashed in off the crossbar.
Sam Amo-Ameyaw put the Saints back in front just eight minutes later as he finished a stunning passing move by curling an effort past the Cardiff goalkeeper who had no chance.
The scores were level again just after half-time as Joe Lumley deflected a Cardiff cross onto his own player for a Ronnie Edwards own goal.
Just over ten minutes later it was 3-3 as Cameron Archer’s first goal in a Southampton shirt was quickly cancelled out by a fierce strike from Alex Robertson on 57 minutes.
The game looked set to go to penalties until James Bree fired a stunning strike into the top corner in what was the pick of the eight goals to win the game in the 91st-minute before Archer made sure of Southampton’s progression two minutes later.
Martin utilised the Cardiff clash to take a look at a combination of youngsters, new signings and fringe players, with the entirety of the starting XI that have started both Premier League matches all left at home.
That is not to say their starting places are all secure, though, as a number of players gave the Saints boss plenty to think about ahead of a trip to Brentford on Saturday.
Whilst Martin will have been pleased to see the goals flowing for his side, he will have been concerned at the fact they were so leaky defensively against a Cardiff side that was also heavily rotated.
With the scores level at 3-3 after 90 minutes penalties were required, where Southampton won XA
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There was a notable double substitution in the 63rd-minute as Adam Lallana came on for his second debut at the club alongside Armel Bella-Kotchap who looked set to become a Hoffenheim player until he failed his medical last week.
Southampton player ratings in Cardiff City thriller
Joe Lumley – 5
Came in for Alex McCarthy and could do little about Colwill’s strike as it caught he and everyone else in the Cardiff City Stadium off guard.
Expected to now drop down to third choice with the imminent arrival of Aaron Ramsdale and showed why as he parried a cross straight into Edwards from close range for Cardiff’s second.
Couple of decent stops but largely unimpressive.
James Bree – 7
James Bree is far less adventurous than both Kyle Walker-Peters and Yukinari Sugawara but provides a safe pair of hands at right-back.
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Won’t get fans off their seat too often but his thunderous strike to seal the victory in second-half stoppage time is one that will live long in the memory.
Ronnie Edwards – 6
Looked composed alongside Nathan Wood at the heart of the back four and was neat and tidy with the ball in the first-half.
Very unlucky to finish the night with an own goal as he could do little about Lumley deflecting the ball off him into his own net but looked a little rattled for a while after that.
Showed his versatility as he stepped into a holding midfield role once Lesley Ugochukwu went off.
Nathan Wood – 5.5
Similar to Edwards, it looked a night in which Wood could relax up against a 19-year-old striker in Cardiff’s Micheal Reindorf.
However, three goals conceded does not bode well for the back-up defensive duo despite it being difficult to blame them for any of the Cardiff strikes and Wood also picked up a yellow card after being left for dead late on.
Charlie Taylor – 6
Looked assured at left-back as was expected when he arrived as a free agent to provide experience to Martin’s ranks.
Got forward well to support Samuel Edozie and played the last ball of a lovely passing sequence that resulted in Amo-Ameyaw’s goal.
Lesley Ugochukwu – 8
Martin has spoken about how Ugochukwu has been inundated with information since signing from Chelsea on loan given the importance of the number six role in his Southampton side.
Looked composed on the ball and an imposing figure off it and happy to take the ball under pressure, trusting his strength and ability to get him out of danger.
Will have tougher outings than he did against Cardiff but a solid showing on his debut and could quickly displace one of Will Smallbone or Joe Aribo in the Saints midfield.
Mateus Fernandes – 8.5
Couldn’t have asked for a better start on his full debut as he fired a neat finish into the far corner from just inside the box on ten minutes.
Worked hard without the ball and buzzed around off it. Looks a player capable of making things happen which is exactly what Southampton have been crying out for in the league.
Slid the ball into the path of Cameron Archer for the striker’s first goal for the club too in an impressive display.
Tyler Dibling – 6
Martin tasked Dibling with proving he should be in the starting XI in the league and he did his chances no harm as he slid the ball to Fernandes for the opener.
Tried a little too much at times as he was clearly desperate to impress and his influenced wained as the game went on.
Sam Amo-Ameyaw – 8
Squandered a good opportunity as he attempted to round the Cardiff goalkeeper early on but looked bright from the right wing.
Drifted into central areas where he got on the ball and caused problems and showed his quality with a sumptuous curling effort from the edge of the box to put Southampton 2-1 up.
Cameron Archer – 7
Handed his first start since signing from Aston Villa and operated as the central striker in a 4-3-3.
Some neat touches – particularly in the build up to Amo-Ameyaw’s goal – but clearly wants to run into space in behind; of which there was little given Cardiff’s low block.
Took his chances well with a sharp turn and left-footed finish and an equally predatory right-footed strike that showed how instinctive he can be if supplied.
Samuel Edozie – 4
Was outshone by Amo-Ameyaw on the opposite flank in a display that did little to help his chances of breaking into the starting XI in the league anytime soon.
Feels like he has the tools to create whenever he gets the ball but final ball lacking far too regularly.
As the night went on his end product only got worse in a an evening that proved he could soon be left behind unless he improves quickly.
Substitutes:
Armel Bella-Kotchap – 6
A monstrous physical presence, looked unfazed in his second-half cameo.
Adam Lallana – 7
Looked neat and tidy ten years on from his last appearance for the club.
If he stays fit he should still have plenty to give on the pitch.
Romeo Akachukwu – N/A.
Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh – N/A.
Juan Larios – N/A.