Southampton's relegation from the Premier League in April has brought an unexpected silver lining for fans: the return of the South Coast derby against bitter rivals Portsmouth. The two sides meet for the first time in six years on Sunday at St Mary's, after spending 13 seasons apart in different divisions.
The last encounter in September 2019 saw Southampton thrash Portsmouth 4-0 in the League Cup. Only Jack Stephens and Alex McCarthy remain from that Saints squad, while manager Will Still has overhauled the team and stressed the importance of discipline and passion ahead of what he calls a 'baptism of fire' for new players.
Former Saints striker James Beattie, who scored a brace in a 2-0 win over Pompey in 2003, described the fixture as 'the fiercest English derby I know of'. He urged players to embrace the occasion, noting that the atmosphere will be electric despite the early kick-off. Beattie, who also experienced the Merseyside and Steel City derbies, added that the rivalry matches any in the country.
Still has brought in ex-players to speak to the squad and emphasised the need for controlled aggression. 'Whoever can deal with all of this will probably win,' he said. The match kicks off at 12pm on Sunday, with both sets of fans eager to see their team claim bragging rights in this historic rivalry.
