Report: Armstrong goal secures professional victory

After a cagey first half Saints started to turn the screw during the second, eventually earning their reward, in fortunate circumstances, through a close-range Armstrong finish.

Russell Martin shuffled the pack again for the trip to South East London, making nine changes to the side which started Wednesday’s defeat at Oxford United

Amongst those was a first pre-season start for skipper Jack Stephens, who formed part of a three-man midfield in front of the back four.

The standout amongst the substitutes was Ben Brereton-Díaz, featuring as part of a matchday squad for the first time since his arrival on Tuesday.

Saints found themselves heavily pressed from the off by an energetic Millwall side, doing well to settle as the game edged to the 10 minute mark.

Yuki Sugawara was the first to test the palms of Lukas Jensen in the Millwall net, finding the ball at the back post before firing across goal and forcing a strong stop on 19 minutes.

Yuki Sugawara tests Lukas Jensen during a tight first half.

It was followed by another smart move, midfielder Stephens feeding Will Smallbone inside the box but his square ball couldn’t reach the central Armstrong.

But it was Millwall who were first to have the ball in the net, luckily for Saints George Honeyman’s deep free-kick, which somehow found itself goal bound via Shaun Hutchinson, was denied by the linesman’s flag.

Martin's side responded just over a minute later. Smallbone feeding Sam Edozie who forced Jensen into a strong stop one-on-one.

But that spell was as far as the action went during the first half, with half-time changes for both sides ahead of the second.

Saints switched out Charlie Taylor and Jan Bednarek with Ryan Manning and Nathan Wood, whilst the hosts replaced Hutchinson with Wes Harding.

On the hour mark not only came Saints’ third change – Sam Amo-Ameyaw for Stephens – but also the first clear-cut chance of the second 45.

Adam Armstrong fires the eventual winner into an empty net from close range.

A corner hit towards the front post by Sugawara and nodded towards the back post by Armstrong. Waiting was Joe Aribo with seemingly the goal at his mercy but he was unable to properly connect and a thankful Jensen claimed.

But the visitors didn’t have long to get the breakthrough. 64 minutes had been played when Amo-Ameyaw fed Smallbone, who crossed in from the same side as the corner moments earlier.

Jensen should have collected it mid-air but the ball went through his hands and fell to Armstrong at the back post, who made no mistake from six-yards out.

On 67 minutes Millwall could, and possibly should, have been level. A ball to the back post met by Joe Bryan, who couldn’t properly connect much to the relief of a scrambling Alex McCarthy.

Ben Brereton Díaz made his first Southampton appearance against Millwall.

Just shy of the 70 minute mark came another Saints debut this pre-season, Brereton Díaz introduced off the bench for the goalscorer Armstrong to a rousing reception from the travelling fans.

Dibling, who looked a threat ever since his introduction, looked like he had given Saints a second on 77 minutes. Fed by Manning he cut back just inside the penalty area before smashing the crossbar as Jensen and his two defenders looked on helpless.

The remainder of the half saw Martin’s side see out what turned out to be a professional victory, timed well with two weeks until the big kick-off at St James’ Park.

Millwall: Jensen, Hutchinson (C ) (Harding 45), Cooper, Bradshaw (Langstaff 74), Bryan, Leonard (McNamara 86), Watmore (Emakhu 74), Saville (Massey 86), De Norre, Esse, Honeyman (Nisbet 80).

Saints: McCarthy, Sugawara (Bree 80), Harwood-Bellis (Edwards 80), Bednarek (Wood 45), Taylor (Manning 45), Stephens (C ) (Amo-Ameyaw 60), Downes (Charles 80), Smallbone (Robinson 80), Edozie (Dibling 69), Aribo (Alcaraz 80), Armstrong (Brereton Díaz 69).

Goals: Armstrong (64)

Referee: Gavin Ward.