RALPH Hasenhuttl admitted goals conceded by Saints during their 3-1 defeat to RB Leipzig were “a little bit too easy” but the boss was left pleased by the opening encounter.

Adam Armstrong netted his first goal for the club since November as Saints kicked off their pre-season schedule versus the Bundesliga side in Austria.

Hasenhuttl used 24 players in a 105 minute match at Lavanttal Arena, changing 10 outfield players at the 60th – while Gavin Bazunu and Alex McCarthy played a half each, with Mateusz Lis getting 15’.

All three of the goals came during the second-half of play, as Champions League aces Angelino, Emil Forsberg and Ilaix Moriba all stuck beyond 32-year-old McCarthy.

Saints can be pleased going into their second match in Austria on Monday, when they face Austrian Bundesliga side SKA Klagenfurt.

“It was a very good test against a very good opponent,” Hasenhuttl reflected, speaking to the club website.

“It was our first game, so I was happy with the way the guys were working, and you could see some things were working quite well.

“The goals we conceded were nice shots – a little bit too easy, I think, but I must say that what I wanted to see today was definitely there. We were working on a few parts, and this is what we could see.

“We still don’t have everybody on the same level – you can see there are some differences in the physical part and also in the football. Some have to step up, some are still in good shape.”

On the additional time played, he continued: “The 15 minutes were important in trying to balance the game time for everybody that we need to have at this time.

“I saw a few interesting things for us, and the young lads and the new guys have found a good way in the team so far. They adapt very quick to the game and the way we want to play.”

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