If Birmingham City are promotion favourites and Southampton are relegation fodder, there was very little here to suggest either proposition.
Line-ups
The Saints lined up in the new so-called 4-2-1-2-1 formation, with Davis in goal, Perry and new skipper Svensson at centre-back, Surman at left-back and academy product Lloyd James at right-back. Schneiderlin and Gillett filled the anchoring midfield roles behind Adam Lallana. Stern John was the spearhead of the strike force, flanked by Lee Holmes to his left and pre-season revelation David McGoldrick to his right.
1st half - deservedly ahead
The home team began the game at electric pace with Schniederlin and Gillett providing the foundation for a series of crisp passing moves and the entire team making exceptional use of space down the flanks. Surman, in particular, was a genuine attacking threat showing strength and poise in breaking from defence.
Although Saints failed to really test Maik Taylor, the waves of attacks immediately lifted the home crowd. Somehow a series of crosses and rebounds always eluded the head or outstretched leg of Stern John.
A sweet cross from McGoldrick on the half hour mark found Gillett with time and space from 12 yards out, but Taylor was able to block the resulting shot.
Prior to that, Southampton had survived a couple of scares with Surman hacking off the line after 23 minutes and McFadden fluffing a chance just two minutes later.
Intelligent, swift passing down the wings often resulted in Saints acquiring throw-ins about fifteen yards from the Birmingham goal line, but more work is needed on the training ground to work out how to exploit these territorial advantages - there was insufficient movement or co-ordination to build attacks once they had become disjointed by a clearance.
With two minutes before half time, it was ironic that Saints took the lead through a very typical, very English, very Championship goal. A corner from the right was met strongly by the head of an unmarked Chris Perry and flew into the net. His joy was only matched by his surprise to find himself on the scoresheet.
2nd half - Phillips does the inevitable
The pivotal moment came three minutes into the second half. A pinpoint cross from McGoldrick, who had found space on the right, was met by Stern John. His header was powerful, Taylor was static and I was on my feet celebrating, only to be shocked when the net didn't ripple. It was a gift-wrapped opportunity to win the game.
Sure enough, Birmingham were level within a minute as Southampton failed to clear their lines and possibly paid a price for their worthy determination to always try and pass the ball out of defence.
Saints reaction was to push up Lallana, who had displayed some deft touches and good balance, to play just behind John as a support striker. But the pairing didn't quite click and as the home team tired, Birmingham sensed they could grab a win.
With twenty minutes left, the less-than-match-fit Stern John made way for Jake Thomson. McGoldrick moved to the centre and Thomson took over at right-wing, although he and Holmes cleverly and fluidly switched flanks several times.
With quarter of an hour left, former Saint Kevin Phillips was subjected to a storm of amusing, but strident, abuse as he warmed up. Note to Northam Stand: if you sing loudly about the supposed marital problems of an ex-player as he gets ready to come on, expect the inevitable.
Sure enough Phillips scored a tap-in within thirty seconds of taking to the field as Southampton again failed to hack the ball clear from their own penalty area.
The heart went from the home side and barring a single long range effort from Lallana, there was no sign of a serious hope of snatching a point from a game that we had initially dominated.
Verdict
There was plenty to be optimistic about here, but a few worrying signs too. The football is a joy to watch - at least in the middle section of the pitch. At least some of the young players seem already to have built a close understanding.
If Birmingham are the best the Championship has to offer, then this style of football should be able to put a good number of weaker teams to the sword.
Having Svensson back is an enormous boost. I'd forgotten how indomitable he is in the air and - while he may lack the pace of four years ago - he is a quality player at this level.
Surman was man of the match by a country mile and has assuaged my fears about his defensive frailties. He is starting to look like a natural wing-back.
Adam Lallana also looks like he might fulfil the enormous pre-season expectations. His ball control is excellent and he has the skill to taunt physically and/or mentally slow defenders.
On the downside, if we are the wannabe Arsenals of this division, we either need to create more clear cut chances or to be ruthless in finishing off the few gilt-edged opportunities that do come our way.
Finally - and it pains me to say this as a football purist - we do need to understand that it is occasionally, once-in-a-while, just sometimes, acceptable to hoof the bloody ball clear.