SAINTS came from two goals down and struggling to Premier League AFC Bournemouth and should have rescued a draw at St Mary’s – but for a late David Brooks 2-3 winner.

Manager Russell Martin was seeing his side perform in front of home supporters for the first time in pre-season but Dango Ouattara and Ryan Christie’s early goals adjusted the tone.

Shea Charles, who had struggled to keep hold of the pacey attackers, atoned for a passing error with a strong header from a Ryan Manning delivery to halve their lead before half-time.

Stuart Armstrong then struck with one of his first touches on a return from injury to give his former Scotland international teammate, Martin, a result to take into Saturday’s final pre-season match.

Welsh international Brooks had other plans and raced beyond Kyle Walker-Peters from Hamed Traore’s through pass to slot past Alex McCarthy.

Martin rotated his side heavily from the 4-2 win over Reading on Saturday, with a start for Romeo Lavia – who was the subject of a £37million bid from Liverpool earlier in the day.

There was no West Ham target James Ward-Prowse in the squad – pulled from action as a precaution with a minor knee concern, ahead of returning to training the next day.

Charles, in centre-back again, and Ryan Manning made first starts for the club following their respective moves from Manchester City and Swansea City before the trip to Turkey.

After a stellar introduction to the Saints away support in Berkshire, Martin came out to a less-than-full St Mary’s to say hello to the home fans before kick-off and was well received.

Moussa Djenepo had the first shot of the contest and there was good power behind it, albeit too central. Alex McCarthy was forced into his first save shortly after.

However, there was no saving a header across goal from Cherries winger Ouatarra – after the January signing outjumped Lyanco and Che Adams who sandwiched him from Christie’s ball.

The provider then turned scorer as Jaidon Anthony caught Charles and young Sam Amo-Ameyaw playing out the back, rolling across the box to Christie for a tap-in.

Adams – also the subject of transfer interest from Premier League clubs – had a low shot from a one-on-one well-saved by Neto before Saints reduced arrears just before half-time.

In the absence of Ward-Prowse, Manning stepped up to deliver a left-footed inswinger and Charles atoned for his previous error with a power header to make the scores 1-2.

Martin made two changes at the break and introduced Kyle Walker-Peters and Will Smallbone in place of James Bree and Lavia.

The Irishman made an immediate impact as he bailed out McCarthy’s pass straight to Dominic Solanke by putting off Ouatarra when he had an easy finish.

Another raft of substitutions came on in the 62nd minute and by the 65th Saints had levelled – Armstrong, returning from injury, received a feed from Walker-Peters and smashed home on the turn from the edge of the area.

Martin then made his three remaining changes with 20 minutes to go and the chance to beat a Premier League team from two goals down – something the side rarely did even in the last few years of its top-flight stay.

Saints could have completed the turnaround but Nathan Tella’s dangerous square ball after racing through the right was just about scrambled to safety via the goalkeeper – and his subsequent rebound smothered.

Instead, Brooks – who had over a year on the sidelines with illness – raced through and slotted beyond McCarthy to send a number of the Saints supporters heading for an early exit.

Saints: McCarthy; Bree (Walker-Peters, h-t), Lyanco (Stephens, 62), Charles (Doyle, 69), Manning (Meghoma, 62); Lavia (Smallbone, h-t), Alcaraz (S Armstrong, 62), Amo-Ameyaw (Livramento, 62), Djenepo (Tella, 69), Adams (A Armstrong, 69), Edozie (Caleta-Car, 62).