Southampton were unbeaten going into their fourth pre-season game but yesterday’s game gave the Saints their toughest challenge yet, playing FC Groningen; the side that finished seventh in the Eredivisie last season. Southampton also played Groningen last pre-season, running out 3-0 winners.
The Saints fielded a strong line-up in the first half. Shane Long and Fraser Forster both made their return after having an extended holiday because of Euro 2016.
The game was shortly paused early on as Matt Targett went down injured. He hobbled off with the physio whilst James Ward-Prowse covered his left-back slot. FC Groningen almost took advantage of the extra man as they used the extra space to get a shot off just outside the area, only to go wide of Forster’s goal.
Matt Targett’s injury did force the left-back off, with his afternoon lasting just five minutes as he was replaced by Sam McQueen.
A surprise red card was awarded in the 37th minute as a FC Groningen defender was sent off for two bookable offences; the second coming through a rash tackle on Nathan Redmond in which caused the Dutch side to play the rest of the game with 10 men.
The first half ended 0-0. It was, overall, quite a boring first half with the injury to Matt Targett and the red card being the only talking points. 
The Saints made three changes at half-time; Dusan Tadic, Shane Long and Maya Yoshida all made way as Jake Hesketh, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Charlie Austin were introduced.
There were still no goals, 20 minutes into the second half, so Claude Puel decided to make even more changes. James Ward-Prowse, Jordy Clasie and Cuco Martina came off for Sam Gallagher, Harrison Reed and Lloyd Isgrove.
Instantly after the changes came Saints’ best chance of match. Harrison Reed struck a venomous shot with his weaker left foot as it hit the bar – Southampton struggled to break the Groningen defence down.
The first goal came in the 74th minute as a ball whipped in by Jake Hesketh was flicked on by Charlie Austin, before it hit the post and trickled into the FC Groningen goal; 1-0 Southampton.
At full-time, the game finished 1-0 to Southampton with the only goal coming from Charlie Austin in the 74th minute. Southampton’s next fixture comes against RCD Espanyol at St Mary’s next Wednesday.
