Southampton picked up their third pre-season friendly win in a row as they beat Dutch amateur side KVV Quick ’20 10-0 on Tuesday evening.
Graziano Pellè scored a first-half hat-trick, Jay Rodriguez grabbed his third and fouth goals of pre-season and Steven Davis was also at the double before the break.
Substitutes Jordan Turnbull and Juanmi added second-half goals to extend Saints’ advantage, before Rodriguez grabbed his hat-trick and the tenth goal for Ronald Koeman’s men late on.
Summer signing Jordy Clasie was handed his first start in a Saints shirt, while James Ward-Prowse was also named in the starting line-up for the first time in pre-season.
In the absence of José Fonte, Davis skippered the side in Oldenzaal and it was the Northern Ireland international who handed Saints the lead in just the first minute.
Ward-Prowse headed a deep cross from Cédric Soares into Davis’ path, and the midfielder made no mistake from six yards, finding the bottom corner with a first-time finish.
Pellè, playing up top alongside Rodriguez, then had two opportunities to double Saints’ advantage. The striker fired just wide from Davis’s pass before seeing his next effort saved well by Gijs Krukkert.
The striker wouldn’t be denied just after the ten-minute mark however as he held off two defenders before turning well and firing the ball into the bottom corner.
No sooner had Saints doubled their lead, it was 3-0. Rodriguez slotted home his third goal of pre-season from a tight angle after being played in over the top by Clasie.
The two strikers were getting plenty of space and before long, Rodriguez had his second of the night. After Krukkert brilliantly denied Pellè, the Englishman was on hand to slot home the rebound.
Pellè did get his second less than a minute later, though. Cédric Soares whipped in a low cross that found the Italian, who slotted the ball beyond Krukkert.
Davis was soon back in the thick of the action as he grabbed his second of the game. Jack Stephens laid the ball back across goal for the midfielder, who tapped home from close range.
The first-half scoring was completed three minutes later, as Pellè grabbed his hat-trick. The Italian rounded the opposition goalkeeper before tapping into the empty net after being played through by Davis.
Six minutes had passed in the second half when Saints found their eighth of the evening. Ward-Prowse’s cross, after working a short corner with Juanmi, was met by Turnbull who powered home a header.
The ninth followed soon after as Rodriguez played the ball across the box for Juanmi to tap home from just a few yards out.
Sam McQueen went close to making it ten, but his effort was acrobatically pushed over the top of the crossbar by goalkeeper Felix v Berkel.
The final goal came with a couple of minutes remaining as Rodriguez fired home a fine volley from just inside the penalty area to complete his hat-trick.
Koeman’s men will be faced with a much sterner test on Thursday when they travel to Feyenoord in their final pre-season game before the Europa League gets under way.
Source: Saintsfc.co.uk
