Southampton drew their penultimate game of pre-season as a largely second string XI played out a fiery encounter with Lazio at St Mary’s, here are the player ratings.
With Southampton set to round off pre-season against Getafe on Saturday, Russell Martin used the test against Lazio to give a number of his fringe players one last chance to stake their claim to start against Newcastle United on August 17.
It was an uncharacteristically feisty affair for a pre-season friendly with a number of overzealous challenges resulting in countless yellow cards before a scrap ensued after a Shea Charles challenge that saw Carlos Alcaraz and Alessio Romagnoli both sent off.
Martin has tried a number of things in pre-season and this game saw Southampton set up in a 3-5-2 formation with Ryan Manning playing in an unconventional centre-back position.
New arrival Ben Brereton Diaz delighted the Southampton faithful by opening the scoring on his full debut with a fine curled strike in the first five minutes.
A sublime overhead kick from outside the box after juggling the ball from Valentin Castellanos levelled the scores on 32 minutes as Lazio grew into the game.
That was the end of the scoring, though, with Lazio having the better of the chances across the rest of the encounter and Southampton struggling to create.
Here is how we rated each Southampton player’s performance on Wednesday night.
How every Southampton player fared v Lazio
Alex McCarthy – 4
Alex McCarthy won’t concede many better goals than the overhead kick equaliser from Castellanos but had some shaky moments as he continues to deputise in Gavin Bazunu’s absence.
The 34-year-old’s distribution continues to be a point of concern for Southampton with yet more loose passes that put his side in danger and the veteran stopper left Lazio with an open goal after rushing out of his goal and failing to clear that the Italian side somehow spurned.
Credit where it’s due for a good save from a close-range header late in the first-half but a new goalkeeper is desperately needed this summer.
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James Bree – 6
Solid enough but did little to show he should start ahead of new signing Yukinari Sugawara in just over a week.
Playing as a right-wing back does not massively suit Bree given he is a more pragmatic full-back than both Sugawara and Kyle Walker-Peters; the latter yet to play this summer as speculation over a move continues.
Ronnie Edwards – 7
Looked composed at the right of the back three and showed his quality with some neat passes threaded into midfield.
Did not do too much wrong defensively and showed willing to surge forward when the time was right.
Nathan Wood – 6.5
Played at the centre of the back three and put in a decent showing in front of his new fans.
Unlikely to start against Newcastle with Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Jan Bednarek and Jack Stephens all available but looked a capable challenger.
Ryan Manning – 8
Looked assured in another new role having played at left-back and centre midfield already this summer.
Manning’s position on the left of a back three allowed him to step into the midfield as we saw Jack Stephens do at times last season and he was reasonably assured defensively which is often a criticism of the Irishman.
Charlie Taylor – 6
Similarly to Bree, Southampton’s new left-back struggled to have much of an impact going forward whilst operating as a left wingback.
Many would have expected Taylor and Manning to play the other way around and perhaps Martin will want more from an attacking sense from his wingbacks come the start of competitive football.
Shea Charles – 7
Played as the deeper of the centre midfield two and provided a solid anchor to allow Alcaraz to get forward.
Looked composed on the ball and broke up play well. Will be interesting to see how involved Charles will be this season or if he could even be allowed to leave on loan.
Carlos Alcaraz – 9
Won the ball back well before driving into space and sliding a pass to Brereton Diaz for the opener.
Carried the ball impressively throughout for Southampton and was a constant threat to Lazio as he took his chance to show Martin he should be in contention to start against Newcastle on the opening day.
After a couple of flash points with Matteo Guendouzi, Alcaraz was sent off for getting into a tussle that saw him outnumbered by a swarm of Lazio players that saw him also punched by Romagnoli.
The sending off will frustrate Martin no end but it is difficult to be too angry with the youngster for jumping to his team-mate’s defence after he jumped in to back up Charles who had been shoved.
Still only 21, Southampton need Alcaraz to cut out this side of his game but it should not take too much away from what was a seriously impressive performance.
Sam Amo-Ameyaw – 7
Had the Saints’ first shot on target of the game and had some bright moments as he has done all pre-season.
Made the wrong decision in the final third on a couple of occasions but is learning quickly and should remain in the first team picture.
Sekou Mara – 6
Started as the central striker with Brereton Diaz to his left and looked better for having the new signing close to him.
Dropped deep at times effectively in a clear ploy to get involved in the build-up but struggled to make an impact where it really matters in the final third.
Ben Brereton Diaz – 7
Played from a left wing position and showed Southampton fans why he was signed with a good run and finish to open the scoring.
Struggled to get in the game after that, though, and a couple of sloppy touches that are perhaps to be expected in his first meaningful minutes of the summer.
Came off at half-time and will hope to be involved again against Getafe.
Substitutions:
Tyler Dibling – 6
Picked up a booking minutes after coming on at half-time. Struggled to build on his positive pre-season.
Samuel Edozie – 6.5
Handed a gift as a misplaced pass fell to him in the Lazio box but failed to tee up Amo-Ameyaw.
Will Smallbone – 7
Joe Aribo – 6
Jack Stephens – N/A
Yukinari Sugawara – N/A