David Norris' name won't be remembered very fondly if you're of a Southampton persuasion.
Back in April 2012, the well-travelled midfielder would break St. Mary's hearts when he scored a last-gasp equaliser in the South Coast Derby for Portsmouth.
Norris' 94th minute equaliser meant the Saints had to settle for a lousy 2-2 draw, after Billy Sharp had helped the hosts to secure a slim 2-1 lead, just moments before, on the 89th minute mark.
Southampton did end up triumphing eventually, as they sealed promotion to the Premier League come the end of the dramatic 2011/12 season, while Pompey - riddled with major off-the-field issues - slumped to League One.
In the present day, the two bitter rivals share the same division again, and will butt heads in a box-office Championship clash tomorrow lunchtime.
While many Saints fans will look at Norris with obvious distaste for his equaliser all those years ago, they will find unexpected common ground with his wider thoughts on the spectacle that is the South Coast Derby.
Saints fans will agree with Norris
Norris has been speaking to the Sun about playing in such an intense affair, with the EFL journeyman well aware of how hostile the matchup can get, having been resoundingly booed when scoring that last-gasp strike in 2012.
The now retired midfielder didn't quite realise how heated the rivalry was, when opening up to the Sun about that 2-2 draw, with Norris a firm believer that the South Coast Derby is an underrated clash, when weighed up against the likes of other mammoth rivalries such as Arsenal vs Tottenham and Everton vs Liverpool in the Premier League.
David Norris says the South Coast derby is one of football’s most underrated derbies 👀 #pompey #saintsfc pic.twitter.com/hQ2a9RHNYq
— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) October 9, 2026
He said: "I didn't realise until obviously being there, just how much hatred there is in that Derby, rather than it just being a rivalry where it's got a bit of banter.
"This one means a lot to the people. I played in the Ipswich vs Norwich Derby and that was feisty and lively. But it didn't feel spiteful and really hateful.
This is hate that means so much to them. It probably doesn't get valued as much as it should for being one of the big rivalries."
Southampton fans and Pompey fans will agree in unison with what Norris has uttered, as to an outsider looking in, many might anticipate this match to be heated, but not a full-blown North London Derby environment.
But, it very much is full of malice, and the wider public have a great opportunity to see the full-blooded nature of the match for what is, away from taking Norris' word as gospel, when it kicks off tomorrow.
A lot more eyes will be on the game
Indeed, much like Millwall vs West Ham earlier in the season, the latest clash between the sworn South Coast enemies will be broadcast like on ITV 1 to viewers in the UK, with no Sky Sports hurdle to jump over.
This should mean a lot more eyes will be on the game, with many watching on from home taken aback by the sheer animosity between the two clubs.
Moreover, there is an additional spice to this particular version of events, as the game is the first match Eckert will take charge of after he was handed a six-week suspended ban for his involvement in Spygate.
Therefore, the German will be desperate to steer his side to an emphatic win to pump up the St. Mary's faithful even more.
Conversely, John Mousinho's visitors will want to sour the good mood, with the away side aiming to get in the hosts' head by bringing up Spygate all throughout the game.
Fingers crossed, the contest lives up to its immense billing, as the last four league meetings have ended in draws.
For Southampton's sake, they'll hope another draw like the crushing game from 2012 isn't on the horizon, with Norris etched into the folklore of this Derby forever for his theatrical equaliser.
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