Southampton continued their Premier League preparations with a confident display as they beat Groningen 3-0 in the Netherlands this afternoon.
Maya Yoshida headed a Dusan Tadic cross over the bar inside the opening minute, with Shane Long flicking another Tadic delivery agonisingly wide just a few minutes later.
Mimoun Mahi then went close for the hosts, forcing Paulo Gazzaniga into a diving save, with Jose Fonte mopping up the loose ball.
Fonte then popped up at the other end to put his side ahead when he nodded home another Tadic corner midway through the first half.
Southampton could have doubled their lead just before the break when Fonte's header back across goal fell to Yoshida at the back post, but the Japanese international could only hammer his shot high over the top of goal.
Groningen started the second half brightly and only a point-black save from Gazzaniga to deny Bryan Linssen kept the Saints ahead.
However, the Premier League side doubled their advantage on 52 minutes when Sadio Mane tapped home from close range after some more good work from Tadic.
Tadic, who impressed from start to finish against his old club, then laid on Southampton's third for Graziano Pelle, before being replaced for the final 15 minutes by Sam McQueen.
Joe Sharratt
