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Saints continued their pre-season preparations with a comfortable 2-0 win over Wolves at St Mary's.

Goals midway through each half from Billy Sharp and Jason Puncheon did the damage.

The win would have been pleasing for manager Nigel Adkins just two weeks ahead of the Premier League kick-off and Saints rarely looked like getting any other result after seeing off an early Wolves threat.

Saints once again lined up in the 4-3-2-1 formation that it appears increasingly likely they will begin the Premier League season with.

This was a chance for Adkins to give some other players a chance to get used to it with the likes of Rickie Lambert, Morgan Schneiderlin and Luke Shaw left out after picking up knocks.

Saints took a while to get going against a Wolves side who still boasted many of the team who played regularly in the top flight before their relegation last season.

However, once Saints had seen off the initial threat and settled down there was only one side in it.

That said it was a game of few chances and the first one fell to Wolves.

Saints failed to deal with a ball over the top and Sylvain Ebanks-Blake found himself one-on-one with Paulo Gazzaniga with the keeper grateful that the striker scuffed a poor finish straight at him.

There was no let-off for Wolves though as Saints converted their first opening of note on 26 minutes.

Adam Lallana’s low ball into the box just evaded Jason Puncheon but Billy Sharp was alert and turned home from close range.

The second half followed a similar pattern with Saints well in control. The only real scare was when Ebanks-Blake found David Davis at the far post and he should probably have scored but missed the target.

Saints sealed the win on 69 minutes thanks to a solo effort from Puncheon.

He cut across the face of the area onto his left foot and drilled the ball low and across the keeper into the far corner for 2-0.

There were plenty of second half changes to rest some players and get others a taste of the action but no more chances.

Saints now play the final two games of their pre-season campaign in the space of a week.

Firstly they travel to Bristol City on Tuesday night before entertaining Udinese at St Mary’s next weekend.

The big Premier League kick-off at Manchester City is on Sunday, August 19.

Saints: Gazzaniga, Clyne (Richardson 60), Hooiveld, Stephens (Fonte 60), Fox, Do Prado (De Ridder 75), Chaplow (S Davis 70), Hammond, Lallana (Ward-Prowse 70), Puncheon (Rodriguez 75), Sharp.

Subs (not used): K Davis, Chambers, Seaborne.

Wolves: Ikeme, Zubar, Ward, Doumbia, Johnson, Stearman (Berra 65), Davis (Foley 65), Henry, Ebanks-Blake, Sigurdarson, Forde.

Subs (not used): McCarey, Jonsson, Doherty.