Suddenly, from doom and gloom, there is hope and optimism.

Anderlecht weren't at full strength - but neither were Saints - and it was only a friendly, writes ADAM LEITCH.

Harry Redknapp still wants to sign more players and can't be sure that the ones he has will still remain come the end of the transfer window.

But even despite all that, 11,000 fans at St Mary's on Saturday went home with a spring in their step, a smile on their faces and a new hope that everything might NOT be as bad as it seemed.

Not only was this game a belter for a pre-season friendly - always competitive, occasionally aggressive and good football to boot - but there was something on display that had been missing for so long.

Spirit, character - and that long-awaited hope.

Sixteen-year-old Theo Walcott impressed in the second half, Kenwyne Jones offered a fresh presence in front of goal and Tomasz Hajto, Redknapp's free transfer signing from Nuremburg, looks like he could be the bargain of the season at centre half.

Saints played 3-5-2 in the first half and this looks to be the formation they'll play when Wolves visit next weekend.

Although the defence are still coming to grips with it, it is the best use of their personnel.

The second half saw the more orthadox 4-4-2 with Walcott bombing forward from left midfield - probably what Redknapp will switch to with 20 minutes left if they need a goal in the Championship despite Walcott's tender age.

The game didn't get off to the best of starts for Saints when they conceded after just six minutes.

Jonathan Legear found time and space in the box and, as he tried to turn, Rory Delap stuck out a desperate leg and tripped him.

Referee Barry Knight awarded a penalty and Michal Zewlakow stepped up and finished low to Paul Smith's left.

But then Jones got his shooting boots on.

He made it 1-1 after half an hour as he raced in behind the visiting defence and lobbed the advancing keeper from Danny Higginbotham's raking long pass.

Just minutes later it was 2-1 as ex-Newcastle man Nikos Dabizas left his header back to Michal Proto short and Jones stole the ball from just in front of the keeper's hands and rounded him to tap home.

There was still a first half twist, though, as Goran Lovre's shot from outside the box deflected off Claus Lundekvam to leave Smith with no chance.

Jones completed his hat-trick shortly after the restart when David Prutton did well to get to right by-line and pulled back for the Trinidad & Tobago international to side-foot home from 12 yards.

It meant Saints retained the Ted Bates Trophy - the statue appeal making £3,000 from advance ticket sales in the process - but also found that much-needed hope.

And how nice it was for Saints fans to go home with something good to talk about.

Saints: Smith, Baird (Walcott 45), Hajto, Lundekvam, Kenton (Powell 26), Higginbotham, Delap (Surman 86), Oakley, Prutton, Ormerod (Dyer 86), Jones. Other subs: Blayney, Critchell.

Att: 11,051