Southampton overcame fierce rivals Portsmouth in a 1-0 derby win at St Mary’s on Sunday, beating their hated neighbours for the first time in the league in over 20 years.
The lunchtime encounter met expectations. Saints fans got a goal to celebrate, drama, fights, and three nice points for Tonda Eckert and his team by the end of the bout.
We’ve taken five key learnings from the game, as the Saints rose in the Championship table once again.
Cult hero Bree
Southampton’s goal in the 20th minute ended up the matchwinner, as right-back James Bree went on a darting run in behind Portsmouth’s defence.
Former academy prospect at St Mary’s, Jayden Meghoma, was left helpless after Irishman Finn Azaz played Bree in. The 28-year-old took the lofted pass well, poking the ball into the Chapel goal.
South Coast Derby goals are huge. Leo Scienza is already a cult hero at the club, after scoring at Fratton Park in January. Bree’s goal means even more, and he will be remembered forever as the catalyst that beat Pompey for the first time in the league at St Mary’s in over 20 years.
Azaz lucky, but dazzles.
Finn Azaz had one of his great games in a Southampton shirt. Last month, Saints Marching recognised a questionable narrative around the 26-year-old that he often doesn’t turn up in big matches.
This was once again disproved on Sunday, though the occasion could have been a disappointing one for him at one stage, when early on in the second half, a wayward challenge may have resulted in a red card on another day.
After the referee only brandished yellow, Azaz kicked on from there, and continued to go up through the gears after a great early assist.
Tonda Eckert masterclass (again)
Saints lined up against Portsmouth in a midfield diamond - a setup not too dissimilar to the one they deployed at Coventry last season in a 2-1 win. It worked again.
While questions may come of the decision to start young midfielder Cam Bragg, who was sent off after two cynical yellow-card fouls, the system was what allowed the Saints to establish control and take a lead in the first half. James Bree may have never been in the goalscoring position he got into had a more conventional right winger started.
Then in the second half, Southampton defended resolutely, while not sacrificing their attacking threat despite a numerical disadvantage. Overall, head coach Tonda Eckert showed how crucial he is to the club in his week of reckoning.
Poor-tsmouth
While Southampton set up brilliantly, the visitors were exceptionally poor.
Despite their 66% possession in the second half, John Mousinho’s side failed to get a single shot on target, and somehow lost on xG despite having double the efforts.
It won’t be a surprise to see the pressure heap on the Pompey boss in the coming months.
Dream week completed
The win over Portsmouth turned the week into one of Southampton’s greatest under Sport Republic. Up there with winning promotion in 2024 and beating Arsenal to reach Wembley earlier in the year.
Southampton were massively let off the hook as head coach Tonda Eckert received only a six-week suspended ban and a fine for his involvement in Spygate last season, allowing the club a huge chance to press on in their season.
The win over Portsmouth furthered the brilliance of the week. The Saints now have an elite manager and bragging rights in their area; it doesn’t get a lot better than that.
Azaz turns up in big games -
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