Southampton haven't got the better of Portsmouth in a South Coast Derby, when it comes to league action, since 2004.
Strangely, there will be youthful pockets of the home support on Sunday lunchtime who have never seen their beloved side win a league game against their biggest rivals.
Hopefully, this will have changed come the full-time whistle being sounded on the weekend, as Southampton do have several memorable wins in their back pocket, when playing their Fratton Park foes over the years.
The two league meetings last season:
Match | Stadium | Saints boss in charge | Final scoreline |
|---|---|---|---|
Pompey vs Saints | Fratton Park | Eckert | 1-1 |
Saints vs Pompey | St. Mary's | Will Still | 0-0 |
Southampton 5-1 Portsmouth (27th August 1960)
This rivalry is deep rooted in many years of hatred between the two sides.
Back in August 1960, Southampton tore their South Coast enemies to shreds 5-1 in an emphatic Second Division win at the Dell.
This was the first league meeting between the two rivals at the Dell since 1926, and the hosts made sure it was a short, but painful trip back home for Pompey.
Amazingly, in 1906, Southampton won by the same comprehensive margin against Portsmouth, only this time, it was in the FA Cup.
Could John Mousinho's current group be hit for five on Sunday?
Portsmouth 0-3 Southampton (12th September 1964)
The 1960s also saw the Saints travel to Fratton Park in style.
On the 12th of September 1964, the away side managed to walk away from the South Coast Derby on enemy soil with a convincing 3-0 victory.
This was the Saints' first away win at Fratton Park since 1926, funnily enough, and Southampton haven't felt the thrill of a victory on their brisk travels to Pompey, in league action solely, since a 2-0 win during the 1987/1988 season.
Southampton 3-0 Portsmouth (7th January 1996)
Fast forwarding to nearer the present day, Southampton put three past Pompey during a memorable win right at the start of 1996.
It wasn't in league action, as the two enemies clashed in the third round of the FA Cup that year, but that didn't stop the victory feeling sweet on the end of the jubilant hosts.
Jim Magilton, who lined up for the South Coast side 156 times during his playing days, would help himself to a brace during the Cup success.
The much-loved Matt Le Tissier also featured, but he didn't get in on the goalscoring action.
Instead, the tricky number seven made do with an assist, as Neil Shipperley clinched the comfortable victory late on.
Le Tissier would fondly talk about this win back in 2018, with the enigmatic attacker noting that the "electricity" around the Dell was something to behold.
Southampton 3-0 Portsmouth (21st December 2003)
Another 3-0 home win would fall into the Saints' back pocket in late 2003, with the 31,000 or so people packed into St. Mary's treated to a goal-filled Derby clash.
Two instantly recognisable Southampton names would get on the scoresheet, as Marians Pahars made it 2-0 and James Beattie made it 3-0, after an unfortunate Sebastian Schemmel own goal early on would set the tone for the afternoon.
Kevin Phillips would also come on late into the high intensity showdown for Gordon Strachan's men, with the Scotsman boasting a 100% record against Portsmouth, in the St. Mary's dug-out.
Tonda Eckert has just a draw to his name, but he can remain unbeaten, himself, if he isn't on the losing side come Sunday.
Portsmouth 0-4 Southampton (24th September 2019)
The 33-year-old will be aiming for a lot more than another drab 1-1 draw, though, with a hunger to secure another memorable win, like the ones listed, after coming out the other side of Spygate.
A 4-0 victory would certainly do the job, like Ralph Hasenhuttl managed to collect in the EFL Cup in 2019.
Some well-established Saints names would feature for the away side in this Cup tie, with Jan Bednarek at the back and James Ward-Prowse in midfield.
Ward-Prowse will surely be selected from the get-go by Eckert on Sunday and he will be hoping Cyle Larin can be his Danny Ings style hero, as well.
Ings would help himself to a brace, like Magilton before him, during this mid-week win, with Cedric Soares and Nathan Redmond then making sure of the one-sided victory.
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