Its nearly that rare occasion where Saints & Pompey meet to sort out the bragging rights for the the South Coast and let's be blunt there is only one South Coast derby and this is it.

Portsmouth fans have had to endure 6 years of having the 4-0 drubbing at Fratton Park in the League Cup in 2019 hanging over them, the shame of that night as Saints over ran them and in truth it could have been 6 or 7 by the end of the game, for Saints fans the sight of Fratton Park emptying faster than a Bishop in a brothel raid was a sight to behold.

But the issues that night off the field, including a member of the Blue Few punching a police horse, although not as serious as previous encounters were enough to convince the police and both clubs that this should be a bubble game as it was in 2011/12 for both fixtures.

The fact that this game is played so rarely means that for a large proportion of both teams support, probably anyone under the age of 20, can't really remember a time when the two teams were last in the same division and the intensity of the fixture.

Certainly more in the case of Southampton supporters in that only 2,700 have been able to witness the fixture in person since April 2012, al least back in 2019, 17,000 Pompey fans had the chance to attend that fixture.

The fact that the two games will be a "Bubble Fixture" has brought mixed reactions, but the fact remains that the two games back in 2011/12 are just about the only fixtures played between the two clubs in the last 60 years which have passed without major trouble.

Saints will go into this game as favourites, when we last met in 2012 the two clubs were going in different directions, Pompey were on their way to League One followed a year later by a trip to League Two and have only just returned to the Championship last season after an 12 year absence.

Whilst Saints went up to the Premier League where they spent 11 straight seasons, also reaching a League Cup Final and enjoying two seasons in European Competition.

That of course ended a couple of years ago, but although we are in the same division, the difference between the two clubs is massive, not just in terms of their stadiums, but also the club itself and the quality of the respective squads.

Saints have splashed out in this transfer window, having the clout to spend £50 million funded by the sale of several key players this summer, whilst Pompey's spent less than a tenth of that figure and have a squad that in total is probably less than £30 million in value.

So all the indications are that this game are that this should be a win for Southampton and a good one at that, but Pompey fans have one thing to cling to, the meory of their recent open topped bus tour two weeks ago to celebrate being above Saints in the League table for the first time in 14 years.

Portsmouth have nothing to lose, their fans know that whereas Saints fans are a little more cautious, Will Still has seen players leave and replacements come in, but most of those who arrived two weeks ago have not yet had the chance to play, so Still has not had time to bed them into the side the issue being made worse by the International break also meaning that key players have been away on International duty.

So the big question will be not only who will be in Will Still's line up, but whether he will risk new players and a new formation.

As mentioned in previous articles, with a lack of wingers, literally only Ryan Fraser as a recognised wide man in the squad for the first four games, the manager had to stick with a side that had 3 at the back with wing backs, this was not ideal.

But for this game instead of having just the one to pick from, he now has 4, Tom Fellows & Leo Scienza coming in and Sam Edozie having been integrated back into the squad after failing to land a move.

Indeed that is another boost for Still going forward, not only Edozie but Joe Aribo back into the squad, two players who played a big part in our promotion campaign of 2023/24.

Personally I think that Still will play Gavin Bazunu in goal.

I think he will go with a back four, but it is hard to predict who will play where, their are 3 candidates for full backs, Ryan Manning, Mads Roerslev & new signing Elias jelert who although a right back can also play on the left, so its 2 from 3 there.

In the centre Taylor Harwood-Bellis is a definite and he is most likely to be partnered by Jack Stephens, however Ronnie Edwards, Nathan Woods & Joshua Quarshie have all played this season and all are better suited to a back four than a back three, its a bit of a bold statement here but I would play Ronnie Edwards.

In the centre it will see Flynn Downes & Shea Charles hopefully anchoring the middle of the park with Finn Azaz playing just in front.

Out wide Ryan Fraser & Tom Fellows are proven at this level and I would expect them to play.

Up front does he go for a big man in Damion Downs, a traditional centre forward in Ross Stewart, the battling of Adam Armstrong or the speed of Cameron Archer or even Jay Robinson, I think its a toss up between Armstrong & Cameron here and that it will be Cameron who gets the nod.

So everything points to a Southampton win, but this is football and that is why we love it, there is always the chance of an upset where a cast iron favourite is beaten by the underdog and that is the hope of Pompey fans.

So Sunday lunchtime is what we all live for, a game with our biggest rivals and a red hot atmosphere in St Mary's, the Southampton supporters need to be the 12th man in this one, we have to drown out the Blue Few in the away section, we have to make the home sections a sea of red, even those of us who don't wear replica shirts and club merchandise, wear something red, make a show of colour for the watching millions of TV , let them know that unlike the words of the Chelsea anthem , Blue is not the colour.

Sunday afternoon for both clubs is not just about football, for most fans it is also about a tale of two Cities and we need to be louder and prouder and drive our team to another memorable win over our friends from the other end of the M27.

All Photos Via Reuters

Tonyfromdk added 11:09 - Sep 13 It’s all about bragging rights. This game is the reason for supporting your team. Having been a fan for 40 years now, the wins against them is what you’ll remember. I know it has been for me
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Bowlercow added 14:11 - Sep 13 I don't remember being this apprehensive about a game for a long time.Hopefully the electric atmosphere won't over excite any of the Saints players and lead to a red NB Flynn Downes Of the new signings probably only 2 of them will be in the starting 11 Roeslev and Azaz but on the hour mark I expect to see wholesale changes using the newbies The starting team I expect :- Baz Romsey THB Stevens Manning Charles F Downes Armstrong Azaz Fraser Archer Enjoy the occasion everyone and stay safe

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