SAINTS saw plenty of positives and were given even more to work on as they continued pre-season preparations with a 3-2 win over Bordeaux.

Tyler Dibling starred for Saints and it was an own-goal via his deflected cross that opened the scoring inside the first 20 minutes.

Bordeaux - who played an aggressive game - struck back in seconds as Saints were caught in pre-season mode playing out.

Sam Amo-Ameyaw scored a wondergoal and Sekou Mara added the third against his former club, where he made 36 appearances. 

Mat Lis started well but struggled late in the game and it was his punch that fell to a Bordeaux man to make it 3-2 in the closing stages. 

The club were grateful to have the fixture on after a failed takeover saw the French visitors demoted to the third tier just 24 hours prior. 

With no fans in the ground, the match was set to the backing track of Saints manager Russell Martin talking his team through the actions on the pitch.

A total of 21 players featured with the rest sat around the ground, finding shelter from the baking heat at the home of UE Olot in Spain. 

Saints looked to be getting off to a fast start as they lined up in a classic 4-3-3, with Sekou Mara going close as he pressed and the ball ricocheted goalwards.

Martin's side struggled to retain the ball in key moments during the early stages of the match, with some sloppy balls and touches.

Both teams went at it as though it was a league fixture though, and Ryan Manning impressed stepping into the middle of the pitch from full-back.

Dibling opened the scoring via an own goal after 19 minutes, when he was fed by academy teammate Jay Robinson.

Sam Amo-Ameyaw and Tyler Dibling impressed once againSam Amo-Ameyaw and Tyler Dibling impressed once again (Image: Southampton FC)

The youngster played across the box for the arriving Mara but it was diverted through the goalkeeper's legs by a Bordeaux defender.

Their lead lasted only a minute, though, when the opposition caught them playing out from the back and struck past Mat Lis from range.

The Pole had made a bright start in the net with two important early saves but had some nervy moments towards the end of the half.

He passed straight to an attacker once before Bordeaux's number 10 put wide with an open goal that was gifted to him by a Lis tackle outside of the box.

Charly Alcaraz went close with a free-kick and had a goal ruled out for offside after he was expertly put through by the impressive Dibling.

Amo-Ameyaw lit up the second half with an impressive solo goal, tracking back to win the ball before dribbling through two and finishing in the bottom corner.

That restored Southampton's lead just minutes after Alcaraz had a header cleared off the line following up Robinson's saved attempt.

Dibling created that chance and he created the third goal too, laying off for Mara to stroke home from inside the area in the 56th minute. 

Martin made 10 outfield changes in the 60th minute and Bordeaux hit the post almost immediately, capitalising on confusion at the back.

Will Smallbone, Joe Aribo and Adam Armstrong threatened to get the fourth all breaking into spaces in behind the defensive line.

However, it was Bordeaux who would strike next - capitalising on a bit of skill and a Lis punch to drive back inside the near post 10 minutes from time. 

The opposition hit that post twice in added time, with Lis gratefully clutching one effort and the Bordeaux strike bemoaning his miss as the other deflected wide. 

First Saints XI: Lis, Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Manning, Charles, Alcaraz, Dibling, Amo-Ameyaw, Robinson, Mara.

Second Saints XI: Lis, Sugawara, Taylor, Boot, O'Brien-Whitmarsh, Downes, Smallbone, Aribo, Kamaldeen, Edozie, Armstrong.