Southampton and Portsmouth Set for South Coast Derby Amid Spygate Resolution and New Signings
Southampton host Portsmouth in the 74th South Coast derby on Sunday, with Tonda Eckert cleared to manage after a suspended ban and Portsmouth's summer signings still settling in.
Southampton and Portsmouth meet on Sunday at St Mary's in the latest South Coast derby, a fixture that has historically been rare and fiercely contested. Since 1996 the clubs have met just 12 times across all competitions, and neither has beaten the other in a league game since 2005, when Portsmouth won 4-1 at Fratton Park. The four league meetings since then have all ended level, alongside an FA Cup win for Portsmouth in 2010 and a Southampton victory in the 2019 League Cup.
The buildup has been dominated by the resolution of the Spygate case. On Wednesday, the FA announced that Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert would serve a suspended six-week ban and pay a £28,000 fine, allowing him to be in the dugout on Sunday. Former Southampton striker James Beattie suggested the timing could benefit the team, saying the decision removes a distraction and allows players to focus on the match.
Portsmouth enter the derby after a summer of increased investment, spending over £10m on players including forwards Marko Milovanovic and Tyrese Shade, winger Abu Kamara and midfielder Rocco Shein. Milovanovic has scored twice in the Championship but has struggled with fitness and missed the last two games. Shein has played in all seven league matches in a deeper role, while Kamara and Shade have each registered an assist. On loan from Chelsea, 17-year-old Ryan Kavuma-McQueen has impressed despite playing with a splint after a double hand fracture.
Southampton have been strong at home, winning all four league games at St Mary's and scoring 15 goals. Playmakers Finn Azaz and Leo Scienza have been central to that form, with Azaz contributing three goals and five assists in eight Championship matches. With striker Cyle Larin also a threat, Portsmouth's challenge will be to limit the supply to Southampton's attacking trio.
The derby is known for its intense atmosphere, with both sets of supporters exchanging derogatory songs. Last season's matches were the first league meetings since 2012 and ended in a goalless draw at St Mary's and a 1-1 draw at Fratton Park, leaving neither side with bragging rights. Sunday's encounter is expected to be similarly charged as both teams seek a first league win in the fixture since 2005.
Image: Shutterstock / BBC Sport
