Three winners and two losers from Southampton's nervy South Coast Derby victory

Southampton fans can now breathe again after a whirlwind of a South Coast Derby was played out at St. Mary's.

The Saints had to dig deep to secure a nervy 1-0 win, with Portsmouth huffing and puffing throughout - having amassed 15 shots on Daniel Peretz's goal - without grabbing a crucial equaliser.

There were several star performers from the home side's perspective, with Tonda Eckert over the moon at the full-time whistle to collect a big three points, on his first Championship match back in the dug-out, after finding out his Spygate fate.

There were also some underperformers out there from the hosts' point of view as well, in such a hot-headed affair, but thankfully the three points were clinched in gritty fashion...

3 winners and 2 losers from Southampton's 1-0 win over Pompey

Winner #1 James Bree

The obvious player to focus in on first when looking over the winners from the tense win is James Bree, as the ex-Luton Town defender proved to be the unlikely match-winner for Eckert and Co.

He put away the first half opportunity that fell to him kindly like a seasoned pro in front of goal, as a defence-splitting pass from Finn Azaz was inch perfect for him.

Bree still had a lot to do in front of goal, but he calmly slotted home, as he opened his Championship account for the season in style.

Away from poking home this vital goal, the valiant number 14 also rolled his sleeves up to win eight duels to protect his side's clean sheet.

Loser #1 Cameron Bragg

Southampton desperately needing a gutsy display like they one they got from Bree, as the Saints had to play all of the second half with ten men, due to Cameron Bragg picking up two rapid fire bookings in the first 45 minutes.

Both times, Bragg was lackadaisical with the ball at his feet, and he would unsurprisingly be handed his marching orders, when he dragged down Ebou Adams on the 43rd minute mark.

Bragg trudged off with a despondent look on his face, and he was consoled by this teammates, knowing the damage he had just caused his team on such a nerve-wracking stage.

Luckily, the Saints managed to still grind out a win, despite this unwanted dismissal, with Bragg standing out as a strange pick to bring into the starting XI by Eckert.

He won't be written off as a first-team worthy midfielder, but as St. Mary's great Francis Benali said at half-time on the ITV coverage, this will be a "huge lesson" for the inexperienced battler.

Winner #2 Jack Stephens

The German, however, made an inspired choice to bring in Jack Stephens, as he was determined throughout to collect his side's first clean sheet in league action this season, despite being down a man for so long.

Many grumbles before the game would have centred on the fact that Nathan Wood was dropped for the number five to come in, with Wood settling into the first team fold, while Stephens had been error-prone so far this campaign.

But, the returning captain shut up his critics with a composed display, as he was routinely in the right place at the right time to block a goalbound Pompey effort.

Moreover, he ended the back-and-forth game with a 91% pass accuracy average next to his name, to further show how calm he was throughout, when others cracked under the pressure.

Loser #2 Leo Scienza

Leo Scienza didn't fall victim to a catalogue of poor decisions, like Bragg, but he would have been disappointed with his runout at St. Mary's, all the same.

Due to the Scotsman picking up two reckless bookings, Eckert had to reshuffle his pack, and the Brazilian was taken off early into the second half, due to his reputation as a luxury player, for the more industrious Kuryu Matsuki.

When Scienza went to bed last night, he would have been dreaming of another goal against Pompey, like the memorable breakaway effort he bagged last campaign at Fratton Park.

Instead, he was taken off after just 57 minutes, having registered only one effort on the away side's net.

Still, he didn't seem too aggrieved by how his individual afternoon played out post-match, as he joined in with the jubilant celebrations on the pitch afterwards.

Indeed, he would passionately declare that "Hampshire is red" when picked up by the CBS Sports cameras.

Winner #3 Flynn Downes

If we are talking about passion and blood sweat and tears, Flynn Downes has to get a mention.

The ex-West Ham United midfielder ran himself into the ground once more for Eckert's men, with seven tackles and duels won.

He just does the dirty work so effortlessly, with Daily Echo journalist Alfie House full of praise for his display mid-match, noting that the tireless number four is a "terrier" for the South Coast titans.

A full team effort was required to pick up the three points, after Bragg was sent off, and Downes was just the brave and heroic spirit the Saints needed to reign supreme at the end of the dramatic showdown.

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