Portsmouth have ‘all the motivation they need’ amid Southampton landmark
Portsmouth have reigned supreme on the South Coast for much of their existence alongside bitter rivals Southampton.
While Saints have managed to compete at a higher level than Pompey for the most recent era of football, today (13 February) marks 15 years since a day when the Blues reminded their hosts at St Mary’s who the most successful team on the coast are – a landmark that should give this present Pompey side all the motivation they need for more days like that one.
The two clubs are dying for the derby to return in league football, having last faced off in their two Championship fixtures in 2011-12, both ending in dramatic draws, before Southampton won at Fratton Park in the Carabao Cup in 2019.
Portsmouth were almost Premier League underdogs
Pompey headed to St Mary’s in the FA Cup fourth round in 2010 rooted to the bottom of the Premier League – it would be the last time to date that the Blues occupied the top flight – and were in dire straits of administration, winding-up orders and deep uncertainty which has since been reflected upon by former stars.
Southampton were in League One at the time, fancying their chances against a Pompey side in disarray. They still had many of their Championship squad including the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert – even a young Michail Antonio was in their ranks.
The first half was a drab affair, with the two sets of supporters providing the entertainment with their long-standing vitriol towards one another.
In fact, the showdown was goalless until midway through the second half, when the fleeting former Arsenal prodigy Quincy Owusu-Abeyie curled a terrific shot past Kelvin Davis.
The Portsmouth fans were in raptures but not for long as Lambert fired in an equaliser, but Aruna Dindane’s chipped finish restored the advantage for Avram Grant’s men.
Nadir Belhadj then tucked a third in on the counter-attack, before Jamie O’Hara rounded off a cup tie which became a thrashing and much-needed respite for the Pompey fans whose club was hanging by a thread with HMRC.
Pompey reached Wembley final twice in three seasons
By this point, Portsmouth fans in hindsight should have trusted their hearts that they would go and put Southampton to the sword on their own patch.
Because the FA Cup was in their nature, having only months before had to concede the trophy to Chelsea, who won it in 2009 after Pompey’s triumph over Cardiff City in 2008. Fans were quick to remind Bluebirds counterparts of that on Tuesday (11 February) during the Championship win at Fratton Park.
Harry Redknapp remains the last English manager to lift the famous old trophy, and Grant nearly lifted it against his former side in 2010 as Pompey went all the way to Wembley once again, having left their rivals in their wake.
On the day, favourites Chelsea retained the trophy and completed a league and cup double under Carlo Ancelotti with a 1-0 win – but it wasn’t plain sailing.
Kevin-Prince Boateng, entrusted with a penalty having netted against ex-employers Tottenham in the semi-finals, saw a tame effort kept out by Petr Cech with the game goalless, before Didier Drogba’s free-kick separated the sides.
Frank Lampard put his own penalty wide to keep it a nervy ending, but Pompey always kept the memories of their earlier dismantling of the Saints.