Edozie: A positive performance
Finishing pre-season with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Eredivisie outfit AZ Alkmaar at St Mary’s, winger Sam Edozie reflected on an otherwise positive performance less than a week out from the start of the 2023/24 campaign.
In a game largely dominated by the hosts, it was Alkmaar who notched the only goal of the afternoon courtesy of Mayckel Lahdo midway through the second half.
Beginning the Championship campaign with a trip to Sheffield Wednesday in six days' time, Edozie drew plenty of positives from Saints’ final friendly encounter.
“I feel like it’s a great game to finish pre-season on,” he said. “They’re a top side and were in the Europa Conference League semi-final, so to have that as a last game preparing us for the season coming, I see it as a real positive.
“To perform how we did – I know we lost – but I feel like we dominated in most areas, so very positive with the game and looking forward to the next one.
“They’re a top side and we kind of made them look like they weren’t as good as you might have thought. We came and kind of dominated them with more possession, more shots, I think they only had two shots and scored one, so once we start becoming more clinical and start finishing our chances I think we’re going to be a real side so I’m looking forward to it.”
Looking ahead to the first game of the season, the 20-year-old added:
“Pre-season is a time to get your sharpness back. My sharpness is coming back, still not one hundred percent, but I’ll definitely be there for Friday.
"This game today was a nice game to try and get my sharpness back to one hundred percent, so I’m really looking forward to Friday and I know all the lads are, so it should be a great game.”
