This friendly was heading for a repeat of Albion’s league game at St Mary’s last season, which they won 4-0.
Instead, it brought back bad memories of a trip to Leicester
From two-up and cruising to a 2-2 draw in just a few minutes.
Fabian Hurzeler said he would rather it happen in a friendly.
It feels like Albion are not quite ready for the Premier League season.
But a testing last 20 minutes or so at Southampton will do them no harm.
Yankuba Minteh’s double was scant reward for their domination until then.
They were both beautifully passed inside the far post but even the two-goal man should have scored more.
A deflection and a slightly generous penalty restored parity for a revitalised home side who then hit the post.
But there were signs of how Albion can trouble teams.
Max De Cuyper wide left with Kaoru Mitoma drifting infield looks exciting and Matt O’Riley continues to find good spaces.
Jan Paul van Hecke and Lewis Dunk got their side moving with passes at times and Mats Wieffer is good on the ball.
And then there is two-goal Minteh. He is raw and inconsistent but his two finishes were high class.
For all his ungainly contributions to defence at times, it feels like he tries to do the right thing.
He was trying to be unselfish and the team player when he almost comically failed to tee up Mitoma rather finishing himself.
But, given ample chance in his interviews to tell us about what the second-year winger can do this term, Hurzeler turned them down.
He spoke about what the Gambian did not do against at the ball and framed it as a reflection of what happened with the team.
Maybe it will look a bit tighter when they have a more defensive-minded midfielder, be it Carlos Baleba or Jack Hinshelwood.
Would that have prevented Jay Robinson travelling a long way in possession before his shot deflected in off Dunk?
That make-your-own-luck moment lifted Southampton and their previously quiet crowd and Armstrong drilled home a penalty after referee spotted a handball as Matt O’Riley and an opponent rose to challenge for a high ball.
Two superb saves by Gavin Bazunu, a last-ditch block by Yuki Suguwara and other near misses meant Albion only led 2-0.
Southampton almost turned that into a home win when Shea Charles headed against the far post.
A youthful Albion side actually saw the closing stages out well.
There are questions to answer – and a few of them were asked of Hurzeler after this game.
We still look forward to seeing more of the summer signings and the midfield pairing has to be nailed down.
We will learn more against Wolfsburg.
But, if this trip kept focus sharp and reminded a few of what can happen if you take your foot off the gas, it will have been of benefit.
