Portsmouth

Portsmouth captain Marlon Pack believes the south coast derby is far from just another game.

The Blues travel to St Mary's on Sunday (12:00 BST) to face their bitter rivals Southampton in their first meeting of the Championship season.

The two matches last season ended as 0-0 and 1-1 draws, and both sides will be desperate to this time get one over on their Hampshire foes.

Pack, 35, was an unused substitute during last campaign's match at Saints before coming off the bench at Fratton Park as they came from a goal down to leave with a point.

"It's not [just another game] and I don't like when that kind of terminology is used," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"We can say it is - and obviously there are three points up for grabs - but it isn't, and there's an opportunity here to embrace the challenge and put your name down in history and become a hero.

"What a game to do that in and because of the context with the travel, it's going to be an atmosphere straight away when we arrive there.

"I'm making sure that we have that fire in the belly but there's got to be a tactical calmness to it as well."

Pack started his career at Portsmouth before moves to Bristol City and Cardiff City followed by a return to Fratton Park in 2022.

He has played 160 times for Pompey across both spells and has scored 10 goals.

Fresh from boss Tonda Eckert being given the all-clear to continue as Southampton boss after the Spygate affair, Saints are hoping to maintain their 100% home record in the Championship with a fifth successive victory.

South coast rivals Portsmouth make the short journey along the M27 on Sunday (12:00 BST) on a three-game unbeaten run.

• The last four league encounters between Southampton and Portsmouth have all been drawn, with Pompey the last team to win in this fixture in a 4-1 victory at Fratton Park in April 2005.

• Portsmouth have won one of their past nine league visits to Southampton (D4 L4), winning 2-0 in the top-flight in January 1988 under Alan Ball.

• Southampton have scored 15 goals in just four home league games this season – it is the most by a Championship side in their first four home games since Reading scored 16 in 2008-09.

• This is only Portsmouth's third league game on a Sunday in the past two seasons, with the previous two both against Southampton (D2). Pompey have won just four of their past 32 league games on Sundays (D11 L17).

• Southampton's Cyle Larin has scored 11 goals in 14 Championship appearances at St Mary's, scoring a goal every 81 minutes. Since 2004-05, the only player to play 750+ minutes at one stadium and have a better minutes per goal ratio is Dwight Gayle at St James' Park (one every 72 mins).

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Portsmouth midfielder Ebou Adams says there is a fine line between becoming the hero or villain in the South Coast derby against rivals Southampton.

Adams netted the equaliser for Pompey against Saints in a 1-1 draw at Fratton Park last season.

And in doing so, the 30-year-old became the first Portsmouth player to score against Southampton since David Norris' 90th-minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw at St Mary's in April 2012.

"The fact that [Norris goal] is still remembered, that shows how important it is," Adams told the Who Needs Mourinho? podcast.

"He scored a last minute equaliser and he's still being spoken about. I've scored an equaliser. What reception would you get if you score a winner?

"If Norris scored 14 years ago and people are still talking about it, it's a chance for someone to be an absolute hero if they score the winner.

"At the same time, when emotion gets into it, you can absolutely become a villain. So we have to be very careful as players."

Pompey visit Southampton on Sunday and Adams said making a costly error in this fixture, such as getting sent off for mistiming a tackle, does not just cost the team - it costs "the whole city".

"It's so difficult," he added.

"You really want to do well for the fans, that's why it's so important to take the emotion out of it as a player because God forbid anyone from either team makes a crazy mistake.

"It can easily be a downward spiral from there because the management of the game is so, so massive."

Listen to the special episode of BBC Radio Solent's Who Needs Mourinho? podcast with Ebou Adams below or on BBC Sounds here.

Portsmouth have not won against Southampton since 2010 but could their rivals' current predicament provide a good opportunity to end that run when they meet at St Mary's on Sunday (12:00 BST)?

Saints are awaiting the outcome of boss Tonda Eckert's hearing regarding his punishment for Spygate charges, while key players such as striker Cyle Larin and goalkeeper Daniel Peretz face injury doubts.

"It does lean a bit in our favour that Southampton are in disarray at the moment," Portsmouth fan Brendon said.

"I think we come out the box and come out firing, in the first half at least.

"We've got to go for it. If Marko Milovanovic is back and we've got Tyrese Shade and Abu Kamara and Adrian Segecic, we can get in the pockets and run at Southampton."

Listen to the full discussion above or on BBC Sounds here.

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Richard Hughes' arrival at Portsmouth four years ago rather summed up where things were at the club at that moment.

Five months previously Pompey had failed to secure his signature, with Hughes opting to stay at Forest Green. When he finally did arrive at Fratton Park just over four years ago, he arrived at a club that felt stuck in League One and drifting.

Pompey had started their sixth season in the third tier promisingly but by the autumn a slide had already begun, and the playoffs would be missed for the third season in a row.

Danny Cowley may have had the title "head coach" but the reality was he was more of a "manager" and did not appear the obvious person to work under or alongside a sporting director.

Defining success for someone in the sporting director role is not as clear as for a head coach. But when you consider that starting point and where the club is now Hughes' tenure has clearly been a positive one.

The most important decision was to appoint John Mousinho as head coach in January 2023. It was a brave move by Hughes and chief executive Andy Cullen to trust a first-time head coach.

Naturally it attracted criticism, but has proved to be a masterstroke.

There are plenty of examples of sporting directors and head coaches falling out. I am sure there have been disagreements along the way. For Hughes and Mousinho to maintain a positive relationship for almost four years in such a high pressure environment is an achievement.

The recruitment has had high and low points. The assembling of the League One promotion team on a modest budget in 2023 was an impressive piece of squad building, but the summer 2025 window will not be at the top of his CV.

No one gets every signing correct. To coin a cricket phase recruiters have a "batting average" which should be interpreted alongside the budget they have to spend. For every Terry Devlin there's likely to be a Luke Le Roux.

The club have made some decent sales but have not been able to sell on a cheap signing for a huge fee which is a stated club aim. Although Terry Devlin and Adrian Segecic both looked set to be that departure this summer before expected interest didn't materialise.

Whether we like it or not budgets and finances are the biggest determination of club's finishing positions. For Richard Hughes' three full seasons at the club Portsmouth have comfortably outperformed where their spending would expect them to finish.

Owners cannot and fans should not demand more than that.

Staying in the Championship again wouldn't be a "sexy" achievement but it would be a good one and would highlight, under Richard Hughes, Portsmouth have made solid progress.

The latest episode of BBC Radio Solent's Who Needs Mourinho? podcast is out now.

Former Pompey kitman "Big" Kev McCormack joins Chris Wise and Andy Moon to talk about his 27 years at Fratton Park and share some great stories.

What was his favourite game? What were the managers he worked for like?

Listen above or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

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"OK". I would not want to encourage managers to give one-word answers in interviews but that from John Mousinho summed up Portsmouth's start to the season pretty well.

Eight points from seven matches is certainly no more than OK. Especially given it has been a straightforward set of fixtures, nicely spread out.

Both the level of opposition and the scheduling are more challenging in October and November.

There are question marks over the team. On paper conceding 10 goals in seven games is a decent record but they have let in too many avoidable goals. The attack is not strong enough to overcome poor defending.

Injuries are once again a major concern. Losing impressive loanee Benji Arthur until December is a big blow. Another setback for Conor Shaughnessy is a concern. Losing those two will make solidifying the team much harder.

The returns of Keshi Anderson, Connor Ogilvie and Josh Murphy next month will be very welcome. A fit Murphy returning to the levels of two seasons ago would be a complete game-changer.

Mousinho opted to switch his goalkeeper at the start of September. Daniel Bielica has made some decent saves but has struggled at times. He will need to improve or a return to the team for Nico Schmid will have to be considered. You do not want to be alternating between your keepers.

Marlon Pack is as dependable as ever but his importance to the team only highlights the struggles Pompey have had recruiting a defensive midfielder.

Iyad Mohamed is still an unknown quantity. Andre Dozzell opted to go to Major League Soccer rather than sign a new contract at Fratton Park in the summer. He would have been a useful presence to have in the squad.

There are positives as well. Ryan Kavuma-McQueen already looks a force in the Championship. Incredible for a 17 year-old who'd never played league football before. All three loanees look excellent additions.

Marko Milovanovic's playing time has been very limited but there have been some bright moments from the new striker. He certainly has the physicality required to play in the Championship.

Portsmouth have not been outplayed by anyone yet. They look a Championship-quality team. However, they have not showed they can consistently break down a team that sits back against them, as opponents now often do at Fratton Park.

The hope this season was to avoid a relegation battle. From the opening seven matches the comfort of mid-table looks unlikely.

Portsmouth know how to scrap and fight their way to survival at this level. They will feel confident they can achieve that again.

Although expect a few bumps in the road. This is Pompey after all.

Portsmouth midfielder Odin Bailey says they are "close to being a really good side" despite a slow start to the new season.

Pompey lost three of their opening four league matches, before taking five points over a three-match unbeaten run - beating Cardiff before drawing with Charlton Athletic and Blackburn Rovers.

It leaves John Mousinho's side 19th in the early Championship table, three points above the relegation zone but also three points away from the top half of the table, which would represent progress for the club.

"There's a massive feeling of frustration because we feel like we're so close as a team to becoming a really good side," Bailey told BBC Radio Solent.

"It's just the few minor details and at this level, you make a mistake and you get punished. That's been the trend from the start of the season.

"I think we've put together some good performances, but got undone with a few mistakes here and there."

In 2025-2026, John Mousinho's side recorded just five wins before Christmas, eventually finishing 18th.

They won just one of their opening 14 matches in 2024-2025 following promotion back to the second tier, but stayed up in 16th.

"There's a lot of positives to take because we play some great stuff across the pitch, and we do feel a lot more solid defensively," Bailey added.

"It's just about sticking with it, and trusting in our process, in what we're doing, and it will go our way."

Bailey, 26, left League One Stockport at the end of last season following their play-off final defeat by Bolton Wanderers.

The midfielder signed a three-year contract with Pompey, but has yet to start, making four substitute appearances.

"That's all part and parcel of football," Bailey said. "It's just about staying patient and working hard on the training ground, and not sulking.

"You want to be kept on your toes. You want to look around and see top players all fighting for similar positions.

"The depth is definitely there in those positions, and for me its just about when I get those opportunities try and show everyone what I'm about."

Portsmouth's next game after the international break is an away trip to south coast rivals Southampton on Sunday, October 11 (12:00 BST).

The latest episode of BBC Radio Solent's Who Needs Mourinho? podcast is out now.

Guy Whittingham joins Chris Wise and Andy Moon to look back on the draw with Blackburn and the season overall so far.

With Southampton up next after the international break. Who should start in goal in the derby?

Listen above or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Tom Chappell
Fan writer

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Pompey can consider the start to the season an 'okay' one following a point against Blackburn on Saturday afternoon.

We've beaten sides both above us and below us in the last two weeks, we have not taken points where we perhaps could've done, and some of the teams we've been well beaten by have gone on to climb the table as it begins to take shape.

Those defeats weren't quite as bad as perhaps they appeared at the time.

However, if Pompey are to break the mould on a relegation battle this season, then Saturday afternoon's game really ought to have resulted in three points rather than one.

And as a result of outcomes like Saturday, this season will likely be all about coming top of a bottom eight again.

With the game as it was at both 1-0 and 1-1, our inability to punish our opposition when we had them down on the canvas through chance after chance (and big chances at that) will always leave you susceptible to a sucker punch. That came in the form of Ryoya Morishita's effort putting Blackburn 2-1 up.

As well as John Mousinho's side did to wrestle back something from the game, it's only through poorly conceded goals that we were in that position in the first place.

Pompey's Achilles heel is so often themselves, particularly at Fratton Park and we saw that in abundance on Saturday.

As the home side with the majority of possession, 22 shots, seven on target and dominating in every major metric apart from yellow cards, you'd suggest would be conducive to a winning outcome.

The flair and intent in an attacking sense is certainly there, embodied by Ryan Kavuma-McQueen's outstanding work to tee up Colby Bishop's leveller. With that in mind, a long term injury to what looked to be a star defender in Benjy Arthur is a troublesome addition to an already shaky looking defence.

Just the small matter of one of the fiercest rivalries in English football to come in three short weeks.

Find more from Tom at the Fournilwrittenalloverit, external YouTube channel.

A frustrating day all round for Portsmouth. The point against Blackburn was two dropped and the latest centre-back injuries are a real blow.

Pompey did enough to beat Blackburn. They had 20 shots but a combination of committed defending and some bad luck meant they only scored twice.

The real concern for John Mousinho will be at the other end. Both goals conceded were poor for a number of reasons. It wasn't a good day for goalkeeper Daniel Bielica but he's certainly not the only one to blame. It's very difficult to win matches in the Championship when you concede twice.

To make matters worse their best two centre-backs are now injured.

Benji Arthur may not play again before Christmas due to a stress fracture in his back. Conor Shaughnessy went off holding his groin.

Even if the Irishman's injury is minor it highlights that his minutes may have to be managed carefully.

That's been possible in a quiet start to the season but will be challenging in two extremely busy months coming up.

Image source, Getty Images

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Portsmouth defender Benjamin Arthur is set to be out for 12 weeks with a stress fracture in his back.

Arthur signed for Pompey on a season-long loan from Brentford in August and has played six games for the club this season.

But the 20-year-old was absent from the matchday line-up for their 2-2 draw with Blackburn.

"Benji's picked up a stress fracture in his back unfortunately; a massive blow to Benji, a massive blow to us as well," manager John Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"That's going to be one that keeps him out for quite a few weeks - we're probably looking at at least 12."

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Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho says his side should have taken all three points in their 2-2 draw with Blackburn Rovers.

Pompey had led early on but trailed 2-1 after giving away a soft goal at Fratton Park.

But Colby Bishop's goal ensured a share of the points ahead of the international break.

"Ultimately we're really frustrated in there that we haven't won the game," he told BBC Radio Solent:

"The two goals that we concede are really poor and entirely preventable, particularly the second one where we shot ourselves in the foot.

"On the balance of chances in the game we had some really good opportunities and didn't put the ball in the back of the net.

"But to go 2-1 down we went a bit flat after that, but we got back in the game really well and at the back end I think a little bit more quality in certain areas and we do punish them.

"It's one that we wouldn't have taken before the game, but in the circumstances of going a goal behind we have to settle for the point and move on."

The Championship is relentless. Every player and manager will tell you that and in many ways they are right.

Portsmouth's schedule so far though hasn't been.

The strange Wolves postponement means they've had just one midweek match so far. Now they have three weeks off with only four players likely to be away on international duty.

Pompey have used 28 players already this season. Only three players have started each league game and only seven have completed 90 minutes more than once in the Championship.

Part of that is down to John Mousinho having more high-quality options from the bench than previous years. He's always been keen to make the most of the five substitutes. But many players have been suffering from or carrying injuries or having fitness concerns.

New signings Marko Milovanovic, Jayden Meghoma and Tyrese Shade have all arrived needing to build up their fitness levels. Shade and Milovanovic's training was limited due to their likely transfers. Milovanovic has since picked up a minor injury.

Abu Kamara was also used sparingly to start with.

Ryan Kavuma-McQueen is only 17 so it's sensible to manage his minutes. He's also playing with a broken hand.

Image source, Getty Images

Injuries will always happen but for three wingers in Josh Murphy, Keshi Anderson and now Luke Brooke-Smith to all go down is unfortunate.

Marlon Pack missed the start of the season. Regan Poole has had a hamstring issue. Meanwhile, Zak Swanson and Ebou Adams both had injuries at the end of last season that dragged into summer.

Conor Shaughnessy was back somewhere near his best last weekend but he's missed the only midweek match so far this season, with Mousinho currently non-committal on whether he will play more than once a week. His past two seasons have been injury hampered.

Injuries will always affect sides. They are not a unique problem to Portsmouth. But you would hope most of those available would be able to play 90 minutes by the end of September.

It's felt like Mousinho has been spinning plates so far, albeit the improved squad depth makes that slightly easier.

Mousinho feels a three-week break at this stage of the season isn't helpful. The schedule is tough after the break.

The South Coast derby starts a run of five matches in 14 days and eight in 28 days. There's some tough fixtures in there.

Mousinho will need more players to be able to play the full 90 minutes consistently. Spinning the plates in that period will be tough enough as it is.

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