MANAGER Russell Martin believes Montpellier became frustrated by Saints keeping the ball as tempers flared in their 3-1 win in Spain.

Saints made it three wins from three in their opening pre-season matches thanks to goals from Kamaldeen Sulemana, Tyler Dibling and Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

Things threatened to boil over in the heat when James Bree appeared to jeer an opposition attacker for allowing him to tackle him with the goal gaping.

Flynn Downes and Montpellier's number 15 had been booked for fouls earlier on, while the Saints bench was heard laughing when a player feigned injury.

Speaking to the Daily Echo after the match, Martin said: "It's really hot and we had a lot of the ball. Montpellier didn't enjoy us having that much.

"It is always like that in pre-season. Honestly, every pre-season game I played in against foreign opposition, it ended up in a fight at some point.

"The first half, it got a bit nitty gritty as well. I love the fact the guys are around each other, they show fire and aggression. We can't be soft in the Premier League. 

"It's never a problem. It was a couple of challenges that probably shouldn't happen but it it's a different culture, a different referee.

"We're playing with a Spanish referee against a French team, it's different. We've come through without any injuries, with a good feeling and performance."

Martin had commanded the players to show improved structure and organisation following Wednesday's entertaining but chaotic 3-2 win over Bordeaux.

The boss worked on shape in training, while the fundamentals of attitude and desire remain a constant in his messaging.

Martin explained: "I said to them yesterday the intention is everything. They're under big fatigue from the week of training, the heat and a lot of sessions. 

"We knew they were going into it under a bit of physical stress and load and fatigue but I saw loads of really good stuff. 

"I really enjoyed it, it was competitive and aggressive. I didn't like the casual mentality in both final thirds in first half an hour or 40 minutes.

"It was like we were getting there a lot, we should have scored four or five goals, but they could also have scored three or four.

"We improved that as the game went on. Tried some stuff, saw some stuff from training and some of them worked really well - some bits we need to look at."