A second-half double by substitute Peter Crouch helped Southampton to
a 3-2 victory over Kilmarnock in their friendly at Rugby Park.
Saints debutant midfielder Dennis Wise scored the opener after only
eight minutes and 10 minutes from time Crouch - one of nine replacements
for Harry Redknapp's side - grabbed the visitors' second.
Three minutes
later Killie substitute Steven Naismith, on for Peter
Leven, scored a penalty after Nigel Quashie had fouled Colin Nish - but
Crouch soon grabbed his second to put the game beyond doubt.
Kilmarnock striker
Paul Di Giacomo, on minutes earlier for Danny Invincible,
made it 3-2 by heading in a Garry Hay cross from close range - but the
scoreline did not reflect the Coca-Cola Championship side's overall
superiority.
The first chance of the game fell to Killie after five minutes but
striker Kris Boyd failed to take advantage of a Leven through-ball,
allowing the Saints defence to recover.
But the visitors responded by taking control of the game and they
took the lead after only eight minutes when wide man Neil McCann forced
his way to the byline on the left and cut the ball back.
A clever dummy by Jamel Belmadi was picked up by Wise, who stretched
to send his low drive from 16 yards past goalkeeper Graeme Smith and
into the corner of the net.
Southampton continued to impress, moving the ball around with some
confidence and as the first half wore on the Ayrshire side struggled to
find a foothold in the game.
In the 24th minute Killie midfielder Invincible struck the bar from
wide on the right but the Australian's effort did look more like a
wayward cross than an attempt at goal.
The game stuttered along until half-time but just before the interval
Boyd had a great chance to equalise when he latched onto a Gary Locke
cross - but his free header from 10 yards was weak and landed
comfortably in the arms of Saints keeper Antti Niemi.
At the interval Southampton made nine changes - but still the
visitors remained on top.
The new Saints strike force of Crouch and Marian Pahars soon troubled
Killie, prompted by another substitute, midfielder Quashie.
In the 80th minute the visitors doubled their lead when Pahars' cross
to the back post found Crouch, who almost kneeled down to nod in from
close range.
In the 83rd minute Quashie fouled Killie substitute Colin Nish inside
the Southampton penalty area and Naismith slotted home the spot-kick.
However, with four minutes to go Crouch knocked his second past Smith
after good work by Pahars again.
In the 88th minute, Killie substitute Di Giacomo, on minutes earlier
for Invincible, made it 3-2 by knocking in a Hay cross from a couple of
yards out
Kilmarnock: Smith,
Fowler, Hay, Leven, Greer, Ford, McDonald, Locke, Boyd, Johnston,
Invincibile.
Subs: Bell, Naismith, Nish, Wright, Giacomo, Hamill.
