SAINTS were given a proper workout by Millwall last night during their 1-0 friendly win at The New Den.

Forget the fancy dan tricks, flicks, sharp movement, crisp passing and beautiful game of Lazio at the weekend.

This was rough, it was tough, it was physical, it was dirty.

It was far more like Saints will encounter in the Championship.

League One outfit Millwall presented every challenge you would have expected them to.

They were uncompromising from back to front with two big centre halves, two central midfielders who took no prisoners at all and didn't appear to know the meaning of the word friendly and two direct centre forwards.

Millwall knew they weren't as skilful as Saints, that they weren't going to beat them by outplaying them.

Instead they were going to have out-work and out-fight them for everything.

And that is good practise for Saints to be getting ahead of 2007/08.

Adam Leitch's full report, plus reaction and pictures from the match in today's Daily Echo.