Portsmouth fans rage at ‘entirely wrong’ Southampton claim
Portsmouth supporters have had plenty to cheer about in recent weeks, having secured Championship survival as the Blues plan for next season.
Pompey have one final game remaining of this campaign, against relegation-threatened Hull City at Fratton Park on Saturday (3 May), before a much-welcome rest from the action.
One of the main excitements for the supporters and squad alike at Portsmouth is the rekindling of the bitter South Coast derby with Southampton, who were relegated with a whimper from the Premier League and could still yet equal the top flight’s worst-ever points total.
Portsmouth fans hit back at Southampton suggestion
The first fixture, home and away, Portsmouth and Southampton supporters will seek out is when they will face each other in the league for the first time in 14 seasons.
Fixture release day in the EFL comes on 26 June at 9am, with fans already awaiting the tantalising news of the derby reunion.
The two sides last faced off in 2019, when they met in the Carabao Cup, as Southampton came out on top at Fratton Park with the sides at the time two divisions apart.
This has been far from the case for much of the history of the rivalry, however, with Pompey the most successful club on the South Coast.
In terms of silverware across the football pyramid, the Blues have lifted 11 trophies compared to Saints’ four, including successive English league titles in 1949 and 1950, and two FA Cups to the one of their neighbours.
Football content page The 92 Bible posted on X (29 April) their supposed view of the largest club based in each region of England, with Southampton named over Portsmouth for Hampshire’s biggest side.
Pompey fans, as anticipated, took immediate exception to brand the page “entirely wrong”, and took great amusement and puzzlement at the call.
Fratton Park to host South Coast derby once again
Portsmouth and Southampton have a rivalry which goes far beyond the football, and is a spiky subject for anyone on either side of the divide.
Even the areas which split the two, such as Fareham, Gosport and Whiteley, remain fairly tribal. The majority of Fareham remains blue – the second you’re any further west on the M27, it’s immediately red.
That segregation has become stronger through generations, and is the reason why you will never see a Southampton shirt inside Portsmouth other than on a derby day.
That day is soon to return, and supporters cannot wait to lock horns again; others elsewhere in the country who have considered the derby a forgotten battle will also very quickly realise the deep hatred which exists.