Before the conditions tired out the players, Saints looked very bright. Even though Parma are still a few weeks away from full fitness, they are an excellent side and Saints acquitted themselves well.
Paul Jones made a couple of excellent saves, in the absence of Antii Niemi. Jones looks likely to be back on the bench when the Finnish 'keeper returns though.
Saints fans were also able to see the depth of the Saints squad. With Marsden, Beattie, Kenton and Niemi all missing, the home team still put out a strong side.
Neil McCann looked very promising on the left of midfield, providing plenty of width, able to attack defenders and linking up well with both Graeme Le Saux and Danny Higginbotham during the game.
While Higginbotham looked uncomfortable in a position he;s not best at, Le Saux looked every bit the accomplished international class player.
With McCann to provide width or, possibly even better, with the covering, bite and drive of Marsden, Saints new look left side could have a very prosperous season.
With Saints midfield looking a more potent goal threat and with Delap, Svensson and Oakley all fighting for places, it's only up front that remains for Saints to worry about.
Of course, with both Pahars and Delgado still on the injury list, there is some concern over where the majority of Southampton's goals are going to come from.
James Beattie had a phenomenal last season. To put unnecessary pressure on his to repeat it every season is a mistake, and yet Saints looked bereft of ideas without him on Saturday.
Jo Tessem shoed plenty of good vision and positioning. He's better suited to a linking role or as an attacking midfielder. He certainly isn't going to get a huge number of goals.
Likewise, Brett Ormerod has plenty of promise and was a good creative foil for Beattie last season. However, he became a little goal shy last term and there's no guarantee that he will suddenly fulfill his promise.
So, it's easy to see why Southampton are holding out for Kevin Phillips. He automatically fills a gap in the team and I doubt Strachan will be too upset at the selection problems when Pahars returns.
Gordon Strachan summed it up by saying, Strachan said: "We cannot keep relying on James Beattie to score 23 goals a season.
"We need other players on the pitch to start getting on the score sheet but it does not take a genius to work out that we are a striker short
"James needs help and if there is no one on the staff to do it then we have to look elsewhere."