SAINTS put one over their former boss Glenn Hoddle with this one-sided victory at Swindon.

Tottenham won 3-1 at the County Ground last week but Stuart Gray's men went one better by keeping a clean Sheet in a 3-0 victory.

And they might easily have doubled the score against very poor opposition who already look destined for another relegation battle.

This was little more than a training exercise for Southampton who won comfortably and without really extending themselves.

What a difference a year makes! Twelve months ago Swindon beat Saints 3-1 in a pre-season friendly but then flopped and only secured their Second Division status on the final day of the campaign.

Unless the rocking Robins show a marked improvement, or bring in new faces, they will surely be destined for the drop this time.

Amid rumours of Roy Evans and former Saint Neil Ruddock replacing Andy King, the players did little to back up their boss.

While the calibre of opposition has to be taken into account, life looks brighter for Southampton who look to be progressing strongly and won at a stroll - despite having six potential first-teamers missing.

They took the lead on 28 minutes when Claus Lundekvam rose well to head home a pinpoint right-wing corner by Anders Svensson.

After almost five years at the club, this was his first goal in a Southampton shirt and he looked as shocked as the 1,000 or so travelling fans.

The Men in Black stretched their lead from another set-piece on 67 minutes as a left-wing corner by Matthew Le Tissier was inadvertently flicked on at the near post by Swindon defender Adam Willis.

Dean Richards powered in at the far post to crash a header against the bar, and the rebound was thumped in by Kevin Davies on the spin.

Le Tissier emphasised his return to form with the third goal on 82 minutes slotting past the advancing keeper to round off a flowing move.

Tahar El Khalej slid the ball up the right for Mark Draper to find Uwe Rosler, who unselfishly laid it off for Le Tissier to commit the goalkeeper with a trademark shimmy.

Rosler joked that he only passed because he had already missed enough chances - and it was certainly one of those days for the luckless German!

Nothing went right as he had one shot blocked by Alan Reeves, a diving header cleared off the line by Gary Havlon and an angled shot well saved by Bart Griemink, all in the first half.

Four minutes after the break he was played in by a rejuvenated Stuart Ripley and slid the ball past the keeper but inches wide of the gaping net holding his head in his hands in despair.

On the hour, Rosler cleverly dropped off behind Matthew Heywood to neatly control Svensson's cross. He cut inside the defender but Richard McKinney dived at his feet with no penalty given.

There were several other half chances but at least he got in the right positions to meet them - and it was encouraging to see them being created, albeit against very limited opposition which rarely troubled a solid defence.

Rory Delap looked a cut above at right-back, making time on the ball for himself and looking comfortable and confident moving forward.

He used the ball well, was strong in the tackle and won just about everything in the air, while the other new-boy Svensson also impressed.

The Swede showed lovely balance and quick feet, plus a good change of pace, picking out clever passes and showing glimpses of a powerful shot.

Even at this level, the closing-down is quicker than he was probably used to in Sweden, and it will take him time to adjust to the tempo of the English game.

But from his starting berth on the left, he had licence to roam and to show off his skills in a fluid system.

Saints again lined up in a 4-4-2 formation but with both full-backs bombing on and the midfielders able to interchange position.

Hence, Jo Tessem would pop up on the left or Svensson would roam to the right and Kevin Gibbens had the freedom to break into the box.

Kevin Davies and later Stuart Ripley both pushed on strongly. Triallist Paul Murray made a late appearance as substitute, but hardly got into the game although he had already done enough to earn a longer look.

Saints looked solid and compact, but Gray will know they need to be stretched further - and they will not have to wait long.

They face a much tougher test on Sunday at Feyenoord who have won their first three pre-season friendlies by double-figure scores!

For more pictures see today's Daily Echo.