Rivalries are renewed on the south coast after a seven-year hiatus.
As soon as the names were drawn out of the hat, mouths started to water; for the first time since 2012, we are going to be treated to a South Coast Derby between Portsmouth and Southampton, and it should be absolutely ferocious.
While Sky will insist Brighton vs Bournemouth is a South Coast Derby (it’s not), this is the real deal. This, for both sets of fans, is war.
But how will the match pan out at Fratton Park?
If you asked me this during last season I’d give Pompey a great chance of winning: they were flying high in League One, while Southampton were embroiled in a Premier League relegation battle with Mark Hughes at the helm.
However, things look a little different this season. After what looked to be a great transfer window—with many tipping them to win League One—Portsmouth have inexplicably gone backwards. Very far backwards.
Kenny Jackett’s side are all the way down in 20th place, with just one win from their opening seven matches, and even more damningly, they’ve scored just nine goals. It’s hard to see why things are going to wrong.
Southampton still look a very inconsistent side at Premier League level, despite Ralph Hasenhüttl’s excellent pedigree, but they have a superior squad (with superior depth) than their neighbours, and I expect them to take full advantage against a Pompey side very much treading water.
With four consecutive away wins for the Saints heading into this, I’m backing them to do the business on Tuesday to make it four in four.
At a fairly generous 19/5, I’m tipping a man to be sent off.
In Portsmouth’s seven League One matches this season, six red cards have been dished out in total. As for Southampton, three red cards have been shown in their last four league matches.
Add to this the melting pot of Fratton Park, hosting a huge derby which hasn’t been played in a number of years, and you’d assume there’s a very good chance of tempers boiling over.
Follow @RyanEJourno
