Verdict: Saints 0 Celtic 2

Youthful line-up

Kelvin Davis started in goal, with Wayne Thomas and skipper Chris Perry in front of him as centre-backs. The remaining eight outfield players had an average age of less than 21 - with Bradley Wright-Phillips the comparative veteran at 23.

Lloyd James started in the absurdly under-catered for right-back slot and Drew Surman resumed his role as left-back. In Poortvliet's favoured 4-2-1-2-1 formation, Morgan Schneiderlin and Simon Gillett took on the anchoring midfield positions, with Adam Lallana playing just in front of them in a more attacking role. Lee Holmes played left-wing, BWP right-wing and David McGoldrick was the out-and-out centre forward.

First half - blistering start, Celtic counter

The young Saints began the contest at blistering pace. Early pre-season warm-ups against Farnborough, Winchester and Salisbury had already produced reports of a fast-paced, slick passing game. But here Poortvliet's boys showed the same approach could work against a major European team.
Although sometimes exposed on the counter-attack, a reliable Kelvin Davis kept Celtic at bay. But overall, Southampton had by far the better of the opening twenty minutes with the pace of the attacking midfielders causing Celtic real problems down the flanks.

Gillett and Schneiderlin controlled the centre of the park and produced a series of pinpoint crossfield paces to develop attacking moves. The 18-year-old Frenchman also showed some exceptional ball control and produced two good early efforts from outside the box.

Saints, however, tended to back off from the tackle until well-worked Celtic counter-attacks got close to the home penalty area. Some brave last ditch resistance from Davis was finally broken in the 26th minute by a well struck Chris Killen effort and falling behind did seem to take the edge of Southampton's self-belief.

The Saints keeper needed to make an exceptional double save five minutes before the interval to keep his side in it. But a larger deficit would have been tough on Southampton, and we nearly saw an equaliser on the stroke of half time as Celtic had to clear a goalmouth scramble from under their own goalposts.

Second half - Killer returns

Celtic made a string of substitutions before the restart, but Saints single change caused the greatest excitement with the back-from-the-dead Michael Svensson replacing Wayne Thomas.

His every touch was cheered to the rafters and - barring one sloppy mistake which nearly let Celtic in - he looked more than capable of justifying a place in the squad and, with enhanced fitness, possibly even in the starting XI. I'd forgotten how good he is in the air, both defensively and in the opposition's penalty area.

Saints continued to match Celtic punch for punch, with the passing from the central midfielders down the flanks continuing to display an accuracy that was almost entirely elusive last term.

The youngsters remained oblivious to the supposed status of their opponents and ten minutes into the half, there was a chance to get a glimpse of another academy prospect as Joseph Mills replaced Lee Holmes on the left-wing.

Holmes had been effective and pacy and displayed an ability to switch flanks and to make runs into the box. Celtic contained him reasonably effectively, but it's unlikely that Championship-level teams will find it as easy to do so. Mills was, if anything, more effective, but needs to improve his final ball.

Just after the hour mark, the average age of the Saints team seemingly doubled with Wooton replacing the mouth-watering Scheiderelin and Euell coming on for McGoldrick.

Schneiderelin had had an almost faultless game and looks to have the potential to develop into the complete midfielder. On the evidence of this performance, it's little wonder that Arsenal, Chelsea and Portsmouth were all seeking his signature. I counted one misplaced pass in the entire game and I'm already starting to worry less about the protracted departure of Safri.

McGoldrick chased hard, but showed again that he may not quite make the grade as a Championship centre forward, he lacks the strength or the blistering pace to operate effectively as the attacking spearhead of the team.

Lallana pushed up to replace McGoldrick, with Euell taking on the attacking midfield role.

A few minutes later, a genuinely competitive game was effectively killed off as a contest, when the otherwise tireless and flapless Lloyd James was finally beaten for pace and the resulting cross in to the box led to Surman having little option but to concede a penalty.

In a league match, he would have seen red, but common sense prevailed, Celtic slotted the penalty and the remainder of the game was played in a generous spirit.

Adam Lallana - who, of all the kids, has the heaviest weight of expectation on his shoulders gave way on 68 minutes. He'd shown a lot of sparkle, good control and a keenness in running at defenders which caused the Scottish champions some worries and might be expected destroy some second-tier English opponents.

He was replaced by Tommy Keland, a Norwegian former semi-professional who'd won his right to play in an auction.

The sentimental side of the evening was given full rein with Le Tissier replacing the enormously impressive Gillett, whose departure merited a genuine ovation but was obviously overshadowed by the hysteria surrounding Southampton's greatest ever player taking the field in red and white for one last time.

It would be an exaggeration to say the Saints legend rolled back the years, but his increased weight does not seem to have inhibited his passing ability and I wonder whether a coaching role might be found for him. Claus finally appeared with 83 minutes on the clock, taking the captain's armband off Perry and hobbling gingerly through the last stages of the game.

Verdict

With a final chance to see the once indomitable Lundekvam-Svensson pairing and the sweet passing of Le Tissier, Friday night was really about closing a chapter of Saints' history. But there was more than enough here to be enormously optimistic about the club's medium term future.

This looks like a team that could play with a lot of pace, quality passing and some very smart movement. Man-of-the-match Morgan Schneiderlin looks like an amazing signing already.

There are some genuine issues about the physical strength we possess - or rather lack - in this division and we didn't show enough guile in the 18 yard box. But we might just emerge as "the Arsenal" of the Championship - not powerful enough to mount a serious title challenge, but glorious to watch.

There really are a whole host of reasons to be cheerful. The kids don't just look alright. They look a hell of a lot better than that.

The future's bright, the future's orange.