Saints boss Alan Pardew was satisfied with his side's first foray in League One, but says there is plenty of work still to be done...

The first day of the season is always a crucial time to gauge the progress of pre-season, but for Pardew it was still part of his overall learning process.

"I thought it highlighted some of the problems we have today but it also showed that the effort and determination to turn the situation around is there," he said.

"That should stand us in good stead when we improve the squad. We certainly ran out of legs and power towards the end of the game but I have to be happy with a point."

Saints took the lead in the second half through Matthew Paterson, before being pegged back shortly after a penalty that Pardew felt raised more than a few questions on its own.

"I was so disappointed with the penalty," Pardew continued, "because I never thought it was one from the side line, and having seen it again I still don't think it was the right decision.

"It all went into a frantic minute then and we were in disarray. We were all jumping around and celebrating the penalty save, and perhaps that was a bit naïve, but in terms of the game, that was a key period.

"If we had just seen that five minute period out then I think we could have seen out the game."

Both of Saints new signings made their first competitive starts at full-back, and Pardew was impressed by both Dan Harding and Graeme Murty's contributions.

"I thought they were both excellent today and I couldn't have asked any more of them," he said.

"We've got to get stronger and fitter and we need to bring a bit more power into the team. I was looking at the bench at the end and we didn't have a striker to bring on.

"The two guys who started up front ran themselves into the ground and, in fact all three substitutions were down to fatigue."