James Bree celebrates after scoring for Southampton Getty Images

Bree scored in the first half to give Southampton the lead

Dan George
BBC Sport, Hampshire at St Mary's

Southampton battled to beat Portsmouth in the Championship and win their first league match against the Blues in nearly 22 years.

Saints scored the game's only goal in the first half when James Bree was found dashing into the box by Finn Azaz, taking a touch before slotting the ball past Pompey keeper Nicolas Schmid.

The hosts were reduced to 10 men before the break when Cameron Bragg was shown a second yellow card for pulling Ebou Adams to the ground.

But Saints held on to see the game out and claim the bragging rights over their bitter Hampshire rivals, moving up to 11th in the table in the process.

This was the first game for Southampton's head coach Tonda Eckert since being handed a suspended six-week ban and a £28,000 fine by the FA for his role in the Spygate scandal.

The club have stood by him throughout the saga and the way Saints rolled up their sleeves in the second half, a man down, suggests the players are firmly behind the German too.

Portsmouth enjoyed some possession in the Southampton final third early on, with the best chance falling to Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, who darted down the right-hand side of the box and sent a powerful strike across the face of goal.

But it was Saints that broke the deadlock as Azaz played an in-swinging pass into the box where Bree was making a run into space at the far post.

The defender then took a touch with his right foot before using the instep of his left to send the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the net, running off to taunt the travelling Portsmouth fans in celebration.

Saints looked on course to end the first half well but were reduced to 10 men when Bragg received a second yellow card after pulling Adams down.

The academy graduate looked distraught as he came off and was consoled by Leo Scienza and boss Eckert as he left the field.

Despite being a man down, Saints carved Pompey open early in the second half when Scienza was played through on goal but was denied by Schmid who made a brilliant save.

The Southampton players then wanted a penalty for handball from the resulting corner but referee Adam Herczeg waved the cries away.

Azaz went into the book for a heavy challenge on Adams just before the hour mark and this resulted in a melee with some Portsmouth players furious it was not a more severe punishment for the attacker.

Pompey substitute Marko Milovanovic came close to a late equaliser when he was found in the middle by a cross from the left but his effort went into the side netting.

Southampton defended well in the second half, limiting Portsmouth's chances and remaining a compact unit deep inside their own half.

Azaz shows quality again and Saints hold firm

Finn Azaz battles for possesionShutterstock

Azaz now has six assists in the Championship this season

As he did in last season's south coast derby at Fratton Park, Azaz provided a moment of magic for the game's only goal.

He now has nine Championship goal contributions to his name this campaign in Saints' opening nine matches.

The attacker's gorgeous, lofted pass found Bree in space on the right in a new-look formation deployed by Eckert.

The traditional 4-2-3-1 they have played this season was changed for more of a 4-1-4-1 that saw Bree at times their most advanced player on the right.

The full-back broke into a pocket for the goal before producing a fine finish to find the net, justifying Eckert's tactical adjustment.

But following Bragg's dismissal, they had to adjust and sat deep in their defensive third, frustrating their rivals to win the game.

Portsmouth fail to take advantage of extra man

Portsmouth players and Flynn Downes battle for the ballGetty Images

Southampton were reduced to 10 men in the first half

When Bragg was given his marching orders by the referee, there were a few remaining moments of the first half and Portsmouth came close to levelling the game up before the break.

But with the best chances falling to the hosts in the second half, Pompey failed to make their extra man count and left St Mary's frustrated.

John Mousinho's side had the majority of the ball in the second period with most of their chances coming from cutbacks into the box and shots from the edge of the area.

Abu Kamara and Tyrese Shade got plenty of the ball out wide in the second half and did well at times to beat the opposing full-back but failed to produce a final action of quality.

Kamara had a couple of shots blocked after cutting inside on to his left foot by a resolute Southampton defence.

Portsmouth sit 19th in the Championship standings after eight matches, one point clear of the relegation zone.

Big result for Southampton - Eckert

Tonda Eckert: 'The atmosphere was outstanding'

Tonda Eckert, speaking to BBC Radio Solent:

"This was the biggest game of the season so far and it's important to come out with the result we wanted. There's a lot more to come.

We've got Norwich away on Wednesday, which is another big one.

"It wasn't easy - we had to defend a lot, we had a chance to go two up straight after coming out from the break. But it is what it is – sometimes you need one goal to make it three points.

"We've been talking about this quite a lot now over recent weeks. It was a big one today."

Player of the match

F. Azaz
7.45
10 F. Azaz
7.45
14 J. Bree
7.26
4 F. Downes
7.15
13 K. Schlotterbeck
7.11
3 R. Manning
6.86
1 D. Peretz
6.83
5 J. Stephens
6.76
9 C. Larin
6.71
27 K. Matsuki
6.61
30 J. Ward-Prowse
6.46
8 C. Jander
6.45
7 Léo Scienza
6.34
26 C. Bragg
4.99
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