Alun Armstrong was the star as Town's second string beat Southampton 2-0 in their first league game of the season at the club's Training Centre. The watching Joe Royle, Willie Donachie and Tony Mowbray will have taken note of Armstrong's promising performance.

A big crowd for an afternoon game - including Darren Bent, Darren Ambrose, Pablo Couñago, Bobby Ferguson and Charlie Woods - saw the Blues start well but fail to take their chances in blistering heat.

Armstrong went closest on 13 when he headed a Nabil Abidallah left wing cross just over the bar.

Two minutes later promising full-back Erkan Okay cut in from the right and hit a shot beyond keeper Alan Blayney but just wide of the post.

Andy Marshall had a quiet first half until sub Michael Poke escaped from the slipping Gerard Nash with three minutes remaining to the break. Marshall stood up well to prevent Southampton from taking the lead.

Within two minutes of the restart Town were in front. Abidallah whipped in a near post corner from the left and Armstrong rose ahead of the Saints' defence to powerfully head home.

Less than a minute later the impressive Adem Atay, in the side for Jermaine Wright who has a stomach upset, hit a shot against the bar from 25 yards.

Just after the hour Andy Marshall took a freekick from deep in the Town half and found the head of Alun Armstrong on the edge of the Southampton box. The Saints' defence failed to deal with it and Armstrong pounced to score his and Town's second of the game.

On 75 the ex-Boro man came close to his third, his low freekick going just by the post after sub Scott Barron had been pulled back by Saints' Michael Green.

With the game coming to an end Andy Marshall made a fine save from a Chris Baird freekick to his right. The out of favour keeper had a generally good game, aside from one dodgy moment on a cross.

Armstrong was the pick of the Town players, looking far sharper than he has for some while. Atay continues to impress in midfield and Dean Bowditch was busy and inventive despite having few chances.

Westlake had a decent game in midfield and John McGreal had a comfortable match alongside the solid Gerard Nash at the back.

Reserves: Marshall, Okay, Richards (Barron 51), Murray (Kamara 67), McGreal, Nash, Abidallah, Atay (Hogg 82), Armstrong, Bowditch, Westlake.

Photo: Action Images

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