Tim Sherwood makes controversial Portsmouth vs Southampton claim live on Sky Sports
St. Mary’s Stadium will play host as Portsmouth take on bitter rivals Southampton in the first South Coast Derby since 2019 on Sunday.
Portsmouth have begun their Championship season well, with John Mousinho’s side having lost only one match in the league so far.
The South Coast Derby is often forgotten when the biggest derbies in England are mentioned, but there’s no doubt that Portsmouth versus Southampton is one of the most hostile meetings in the country.
Ahead of Sunday’s meeting at St Mary’s between Portsmouth and Southampton, the derby has been compared against some of the other big occasions in English football.
Tim Sherwood sees more intensity in South Coast Derby than North London Derby
Portsmouth‘s last match against Southampton ended in a 4-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup at Fratton Park, and the last time Pompey fans saw victory against the Saints was in 2010 in the FA Cup.
Tim Sherwood was on Sky Sports discussing the highly anticipated match between Pompey and the Saints on Saturday, bigging it up to the point he claimed there’s more angst in the meeting than those between Arsenal and his former club Tottenham.
He said: “I’d say [Southampton versus Portsmouth] is more intense, but Arsenal and Tottenham fans will tell you it’s more intense down there.”
Sherwood added: “It’s difficult to compare because Tottenham and Arsenal are two huge clubs, but it’s just as big for those sides on the South Coast.”
While that may be a bold opinion for those unaware of the seriousness of this matchup is held in, the fact that these two teams have gone so long without facing each other in the same division makes this game mean that much more for fans of both sides.
The atmosphere in the stadium will prove Tim Sherwood was right
This match can truly kickstart the season for whoever comes out on top, and bragging rights will mean just as much as three points for the two sets of supporters.
Regardless of the result, there’ll be a tense atmosphere throughout as this fixture embodies everything behind a good rivalry.
Both sets of fans will relish the chance to face off, and the tension from the stands will absolutely transmit onto the pitch.
Southampton, via their club website, have announced the game has sold out.
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