SAINTS suffered their first defeat of pre-season after three wins to begin the summer as Championship Oxford United recorded a 2-0 victory.

Yellows Mark Harris and Ruben Rodrigues scored first-half goals for the hosts to give them their first win of pre-season against top-four division opposition.

Saints were punished for sloppy errors in possession and only went on to dominate the game after many of their usual starters came on after the break.

Alex McCarthy endured a difficult evening with the ball at his feet and could have gifted Oxford more but was reprieved of his errors.

Saints - who changed all 10 outfield players during the match - had chances to reduce the deficit but never really threatened goalkeeper Jamie Cumming.

Oxford were deep into preparations ahead of their Championship season - following promotion via the play-offs in May - with an all-new squad.

They had lost their last two games to League One Mansfield Town and Exeter City before facing Saints - with just over a week until their season starts.

New Saints signing Ben Brereton Diaz was in attendance at Kassam Stadium to support his teammates, although he was not involved on the pitch. 

He walked out ahead of the match with former Blackburn Rovers teammate Adam Armstrong, who was returning to action after illness.

Southampton manager Russell Martin watched the first 30 minutes from the gantry with the analysis team to get a different view of the pitch.

He saw Ryan Manning start in central midfield and go on to create the first chance with an excellent lofted ball - but Sam Amo-Ameyaw hit the keeper with the rebound.

McCarthy produced his first save 15 minutes into the match, covering a narrowing angle with an outstretched leg and claiming the resultant corner. 

Charly Alcaraz then shot wide and Amo-Ameyaw saw a chance from inside the box saved before Saints were forced into the first change in the 22nd minute.

Sekou Mara was replaced by academy starlet Tyler Dibling but looked okay as he walked around the side of the pitch back towards the dugout. 

Kamaldeen Sulemana then came off after half an hour with an injury of his own and the hosts capitalised on Saints remaining a man down for a few minutes.

While Sam Edozie was warming up, Harris converted a cross from Southampton's left amid a box scramble to give his side the lead in the 35th minute. 

McCarthy almost handed Oxford the second goal but Tyler Goodrham missed an open net when the Saints number one passed straight to him.

Ronnie Edwards was not so lucky, though, when his sloppy square pass was intercepted and finished by Ruben Rodrigues with ease. 

The second half started with the ball in the Saints net, but play was long called back by the referee for a foul on Manning as McCarthy played into pressure again.

Edozie looked to be Southampton's biggest threat after the break and a low cross of his was nearly turned in by an Oxford defender for an own goal.

Martin made a further seven changes for the last 30 minutes, while Oxford United boss Des Buckingham made a similar raft of substitutions.

Joe Aribo drove an effort wide with his first touches as the visitors looked immediately improved. The Nigerian set up Edozie for a close-range shot soon after.

That was as good as it got - Armstrong had a chance to make it 2-1 in the last five minutes but was unable to beat the keeper one-on-one. 

Saints (1-45'): McCarthy, Bree, Edwards, Wood, Taylor, Manning, Charles, Alcaraz (Armstrong, h-t), Amo-Ameyaw, Kamaldeen (Edozie, 33), Mara (Dibling, 21).

Saints (60-90'): McCarthy; Sugawara, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens, Downes, Smallbone, Aribo, Armstrong, Edozie, Dibling.

Oxford United starters: Cumming; Brown, Vaulks, Moore, Brannagan, Harris, Bennett, Goodrham, Rodrigues, Trialist, Kioso.