Pre season friendlies these days are rarely about the result, so another poor one is no guide to the future.

Alan Pardew promised to put out a strong side for the visit to Sutton United managed by former Eastleigh coach and life long Saints supporter Paul Doswell.

All of the starting XI had extensive football league experience with the exception of Oxlade- Chamberlain who has only a couple of appearances to his name, however it seemed to be a bit of a mix and match side with Ryan Dickson playing in the midfield and Harding at full back. However this is much the norm in these sort of games and not too much should be read into this.

It was the home side that took the lead shortly after Dickso had to leave the game on 20 minutes with a worrying injury and although Saints tried hard they couldnt really seem to create anything worthwhile in the opening 45 to take tham in level.

But within minutes of the re start it was honours even and it was Lambert who took the honours with a smart shot from a ffree kick after Schneiderlin was brought down.

Saints then added to their three half time changes and switched to 4-4-2- with Barnard partnering Lambert up front and the former Southend man looked lively fashioning chances for both himself & Lambert, but despite a late flurry where they almost twice snatched it, there was to be no late winner for the visitors.

It should be noted that although this was a strong Saints side it was by no means the first choice side, it would be hoped that this would start to take shape at Barnet on Tuesday and then fine tuned at home to Reading on Saturday with a few of the fringe players being given their run out at Eastleigh on the Monday.

Nothing can be taken from games like these, in truth Alan Pardew's side to play Plymouth will look somewhat similar to the one that played the latter half of the season being augmented by the new signings who are fit, it is now just a case of getting the squad right both physically and mentally.   

Photo: Action Images

Kiwifiedpom added 21:26 - Jul 25 Sure I would like to agree about 'Nothing being read into these games' except a successful league side should find it easy to manage wins at these sort of games. What it tells me and I find it worrisome is the fact that the general standards of play, the level of the game, are not to different. Now maybe I'm wrong, but, I find that bothersome
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SaintNick added 22:44 - Jul 25 One pre season result last season was Orient 5 Newcastle 0 or something of that nature, Newcastle had a dreadful pre season but romped the league
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