DAVID Horseman’s Saints B team were held to a 0-0 draw but picked up their first points of the Premier League 2 season away at Nottingham Forest this week, with the coach insisting: “That was one of best displays up to the final third that we’ve had since I’ve been here.”

The team are competing in Division Two of the premier youth setup in England, but were hammered 3-0 by Norwich in their opening fixture of the 2021-22 season.

Centre-backs Dynel Simeu and the experienced Olly Lancashire starred as Saints put in a “positive” performance on the road, despite not capturing all three points.

And after the opening day disaster, Horseman was pleased with the clear improvements, telling the club website: “As a team we were excellent.

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“I actually thought that was one of best displays up to the final third that we’ve had since I’ve been here.

“What’s really pleasing is that there were individuals that were excellent and units really functioned well, which the goalmouth scramble at the end showed.

“There’s far more positives in this one but we need to turn that positive display into three points, that’s my only bit of disappointment.

“Forest are tails up as it’s their first time in this league, it’s a home game and they’ve got people like Harry Arter playing while we’ve go scholars in midfield so it’s a great lesson for them.”

Horseman went on to praise both of his central defenders, who are both new arrivals, picking out 32-year-old ex-Football League pro Lancashire as “clever” for the young ones to learn from.

He added: “I have to give Olly loads of credit, what he does is he gives the centre-backs tips that they need to play in the leagues, for example he took a nudge in the back today, went down and won us a free-kick, really clever.

“So he’s been really good and he’s a great lad.

“Dynel’s a brilliant character I have to say, forget his ability for now, he’s come in and he’s up for it, he’s willing to learn, an excellent addition to the group.”