Championship: Southampton host Portsmouth in south coast derby

Southampton host south coast derby rivals Portsmouth (12:00 BST)

Both derbies last season – first league meetings since 2012 – ended level

Saints boss Eckert's first game since suspended ban Spygate verdict

Hosts, who began season on -4pts, 16th in Championship, Pompey 19th

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Close formSend us your viewsGet involvedLive ReportingBen Ashton and Ben Miller

Image source, OptaSouthampton boss Tonda Eckert makes two changes from the side which lost 2-1 at Wrexham before the international break.

Captain Jack Stephens returns at centre-back and Cameron Bragg also comes into the starting XI, which might mean a slight change of shape and system for the hosts.

Nathan Wood and Kuryu Matsuki both drop to the bench.

John Mousinho makes four changes for Portsmouth from the 2-2 draw at home to Blackburn last time out.

Nicolas Schmid returns in goal, while Regan Poole, Colby Bishop and Ebou Adams, who scored against Saints at Fratton Park last season, all come in.

Conor Shaughnessy misses out with a groin issue sustained against Blackburn.

10Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing Image source, ShutterstockSouthampton would be starting the day in fifth if it were not for their four-point deduction because of Spygate.

As it is, Saints are down in 16th, but could climb to 11th with victory and move within a point of the play-off places – and within a point of a cluster of six teams from fifth to 10th tied on 14 points.

Portsmouth are just one point above the relegation zone after Saturday's results but do have two games in hand on most of the teams around them, including today's fixture.

A draw would take Pompey above Norwich into 18th, while victory would send John Mousinho's side up, leapfrogging Saints in the process, to 14th on goal difference.

20Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing Image source, OptaHere's a reminder of what has gone before already in the Championship.

Swansea's comeback win over Norwich kept them top of the pile, Middlesbrough overcame Wolves in a clash between two big-hitters and Burnley won for the first time this season in emphatic fashion at Watford.

You can read the match reports from any of those games here.

30Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing Image source, ShutterstockRight, let’s switch our focus to matters back on the pitch, shall we?

And to get you even more in the mood, why not have a crack at our south coast derby quiz?

Test your knowledge on how much you know about this rivalry right here.

61Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPortsmouth

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho echoed rival Saints boss Tonda Eckert's thoughts and said he was also glad the case had been concluded.

"I'm pleased that we've drawn a line under everything," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"I think it's a good result in terms of meaning we can just focus on the game [today].

"There's no distraction. I think there would have been if the outcome had been different.

"It makes absolutely no difference to us but one where it will just be about the football now."

90Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing Image source, ShutterstockMiddlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg says he received a phone call from Tonda Eckert to apologise over the Spygate affair.

"I think for us and for me, it ended after the judgement in the first one," Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees. "I'm not one to keep a grudge after that.

"I get that punishment and then we move on. I talked to Tonda since that day and he called me and apologised for those things.

"In general, it was up to them to make their decision so for us, it's moving forward and trying to spend everything on ourselves, that's the main thing.

"Everyone is entitled to a second chance. I try to live by that every day."

73Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingSouthampton

Southampton boss Tonda Eckert says Spygate is an experience that changed his life and had a major impact on his family and friends.

"It's tough. It changes your life. If I would say it's been all easy, it's not," Eckert said.

"But you have to find a way. You have to come to a conclusion at one point in the summer of how you want to continue.

"That first decision [public backing from the owner] was not for me but for the club. And at that very moment, then it's for me to see if I have the energy to be the right one to bring that project forward.

"Once you make that decision, there's no excuses."

The 33-year-old also said it was good the case is over, not just for himself, but "for the ones close to me".

"I am not the one who shares too much from my private life but obviously it does make a big difference that we can draw a line," he added.

"I'm grateful for the club, I'm grateful for the people close to me to help me throughout some moments that haven't been easy."

89Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing Image source, Getty ImagesMuch of the talk in the build-up to this match has perhaps unsurprisingly been dominated by the FA's verdict for Southampton manager Tonda Eckert over the Spygate case.

The 33-year-old was given a six-week suspended ban, fined £28,000 and reprimanded.

Saints were of course also expelled from the Championship play-offs in May after admitting spying on training sessions involving Oxford United, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough before their play-off semi-final.

And then they were deducted four points for the 2026-27 season.

But the punishment for Eckert now brings the case to an end – and crucially means he is allowed to stay on as Southampton boss and will be in the dugout at St Mary's today for the big one.

126Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing Image source, ShutterstockGood morning, everybody.

This is a derby that needs no real introduction. It’s safe to say Southampton and Portsmouth aren’t too keen on one another.

A bitter south coast rivalry which has spanned 127 years with 73 meetings between the two sides in that time.

Expect this to be a tasty one at St Mary’s.

Kick-off is in 45 minutes. Build-up coming your way.

280Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingChampionship Scores & FixturesSunday 11th OctoberSouthampton versus Portsmouth kick off 12:00SouthamptonSouthamptonSouthampton12:0012:00playsPortsmouthPortsmouthPortsmouthView all Championship fixturesChampionship TableOn Sunday 11th OctoberSearchSkip to table keyMatch Participants:Southampton, Position 16, Points 10Portsmouth, Position 19, Points 8TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostGoals ForGoals AgainstGoal DifferencePointsForm, Last 6 games, Oldest first1Swansea City9621157820WResult WinDResult DrawLResult LossWResult WinWResult WinWResult Win2Middlesbrough95311712518DResult DrawWResult WinWResult WinDResult DrawDResult DrawWResult Win3West Ham United944123121116WResult WinWResult WinWResult WinWResult WinDResult DrawDResult Draw4Stoke City95131513216WResult WinWResult WinDResult DrawWResult WinWResult WinWResult Win5Wolverhampton Wanderers84221511414WResult WinLResult LossDResult DrawWResult WinWResult WinLResult Loss6Queens Park Rangers9351118314WResult WinLResult LossDResult DrawDResult DrawDResult DrawDResult Draw7Birmingham City93511311214DResult DrawDResult DrawLResult LossWResult WinDResult DrawWResult Win8Millwall94231615114LResult LossWResult WinLResult LossDResult DrawDResult DrawWResult Win9West Bromwich Albion9423109114DResult DrawWResult WinWResult WinDResult DrawLResult LossLResult Loss10Bristol City94231213-114WResult WinWResult WinLResult LossLResult LossWResult WinDResult Draw11Charlton Athletic9342811-313DResult DrawLResult LossDResult DrawDResult DrawLResult LossDResult Draw12Blackburn Rovers93331413112DResult DrawLResult LossLResult LossWResult WinDResult DrawWResult Win13Sheffield United93331211112WResult WinLResult LossWResult WinLResult LossLResult LossWResult Win14Wrexham92521013-311WResult WinDResult DrawDResult DrawLResult LossWResult WinDResult Draw15Lincoln City9324711-411DResult DrawDResult DrawWResult WinWResult WinLResult LossLResult Loss16Southampton84221910910WResult WinDResult DrawDResult DrawWResult WinWResult WinLResult Loss17Bolton Wanderers93151217-510LResult LossLResult LossLResult LossWResult WinWResult WinLResult Loss18Norwich City93061719-29LResult LossWResult WinWResult WinLResult LossLResult LossLResult Loss19Portsmouth7223910-18WResult WinLResult LossLResult LossWResult WinDResult DrawDResult Draw20Watford9225714-78LResult LossLResult LossWResult WinLResult LossLResult LossLResult Loss21Cardiff City91441114-37LResult LossLResult LossDResult DrawLResult LossWResult WinLResult Loss22Burnley91441317-47DResult DrawLResult LossDResult DrawLResult LossDResult DrawWResult Win23Derby County9135815-76WResult WinLResult LossLResult LossLResult LossDResult DrawDResult Draw24Preston North End9117816-84LResult LossWResult WinLResult LossLResult LossDResult DrawLResult LossView full Championship tableKeyPosition 1, 2 : PromotionPosition 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 : Promotion Play-offPosition 22, 23, 24 : RelegationSouthampton were deducted four points due to breaches of EFL regulationsLast Updated 11th October 2026 at 10:58

Number11, Peretz, GoalkeeperPeretzNumber1414, Bree, DefenderBreeNumber1313, Schlotterbeck, DefenderSchlotterbeckNumber55, Stephens, DefenderStephensNumber33, Manning, DefenderManningNumber44, Downes, Defensive MidfielderDownesNumber3030, Ward-Prowse, Defensive MidfielderWard-ProwseNumber2626, Bragg, Attacking MidfielderBraggNumber1010, Azaz, Attacking MidfielderAzazNumber77, Léo Scienza, Attacking MidfielderLéo ScienzaNumber99, Larin, StrikerLarinStarting lineupNumber11, Peretz, GoalkeeperD. Peretz Number33, Manning, DefenderR. Manning Number55, Stephens, DefenderJ. Stephens (c), CaptainNumber1313, Schlotterbeck, DefenderK. Schlotterbeck Number1414, Bree, DefenderJ. Bree Number3030, Ward-Prowse, Defensive MidfielderJ. Ward-Prowse Number44, Downes, Defensive MidfielderF. Downes Number77, Léo Scienza, Attacking MidfielderLéo Scienza Number1010, Azaz, Attacking MidfielderF. Azaz Number2626, Bragg, Attacking MidfielderC. Bragg Number99, Larin, StrikerC. Larin Substituteshome team, SouthamptonNumber1111, Dobbin, SubstituteL. Dobbin Number2323, Edozie, SubstituteS. Edozie Number1818, Fellows, SubstituteT. Fellows Number88, Jander, SubstituteC. Jander Number2525, Long, SubstituteG. Long Number2727, Matsuki, SubstituteK. Matsuki Number2828, Mubama, SubstituteD. Mubama Number3434, Welington, SubstituteWelington Number1515, Wood, SubstituteN. Wood away team, PortsmouthManager: John Mousinho

Number11, Schmid, GoalkeeperSchmidNumber2222, Swanson, DefenderSwansonNumber55, Poole, DefenderPooleNumber5555, Dia, DefenderDiaNumber1616, Meghoma, DefenderMeghomaNumber77, Pack, Defensive MidfielderPackNumber3838, Adams, Defensive MidfielderAdamsNumber1111, Kamara, Attacking MidfielderKamaraNumber1717, Shade, Attacking MidfielderShadeNumber2525, Kavuma-McQueen, Attacking MidfielderKavuma-McQueenNumber99, Bishop, StrikerBishopStarting lineupNumber11, Schmid, GoalkeeperN. Schmid Number1616, Meghoma, DefenderJ. Meghoma Number5555, Dia, DefenderM. Dia Number55, Poole, DefenderR. Poole Number2222, Swanson, DefenderZ. Swanson Number3838, Adams, Defensive MidfielderE. Adams Number77, Pack, Defensive MidfielderM. Pack (c), CaptainNumber2525, Kavuma-McQueen, Attacking MidfielderR. Kavuma-McQueen Number1717, Shade, Attacking MidfielderT. Shade Number1111, Kamara, Attacking MidfielderA. Kamara Number99, Bishop, StrikerC. Bishop away team, PortsmouthNumber2121, Anderson, SubstituteK. Anderson Number2727, Bailey, SubstituteO. Bailey Number3131, Bielica, SubstituteD. Bielica Number2424, Devlin, SubstituteT. Devlin Number3232, Kenny, SubstituteE. Kenny Number3737, Mohamed, SubstituteIyad Mohamed Number2929, Marezi, SubstituteMarezi Number1010, Segecic, SubstituteA. Segečić Number1919, Shein, SubstituteR. Shein Southampton (active)Portsmouthhome team, SouthamptonManager: Tonda Eckert

Number11, Peretz, GoalkeeperPeretzNumber1414, Bree, DefenderBreeNumber1313, Schlotterbeck, DefenderSchlotterbeckNumber55, Stephens, DefenderStephensNumber33, Manning, DefenderManningNumber44, Downes, Defensive MidfielderDownesNumber3030, Ward-Prowse, Defensive MidfielderWard-ProwseNumber2626, Bragg, Attacking MidfielderBraggNumber1010, Azaz, Attacking MidfielderAzazNumber77, Léo Scienza, Attacking MidfielderLéo ScienzaNumber99, Larin, StrikerLarinStarting lineupNumber11, Peretz, GoalkeeperD. Peretz Number33, Manning, DefenderR. Manning Number55, Stephens, DefenderJ. Stephens (c), CaptainNumber1313, Schlotterbeck, DefenderK. Schlotterbeck Number1414, Bree, DefenderJ. Bree Number3030, Ward-Prowse, Defensive MidfielderJ. Ward-Prowse Number44, Downes, Defensive MidfielderF. Downes Number77, Léo Scienza, Attacking MidfielderLéo Scienza Number1010, Azaz, Attacking MidfielderF. Azaz Number2626, Bragg, Attacking MidfielderC. Bragg Number99, Larin, StrikerC. Larin SubstitutesNumber1111, Dobbin, SubstituteL. Dobbin Number2323, Edozie, SubstituteS. Edozie Number1818, Fellows, SubstituteT. Fellows Number88, Jander, SubstituteC. Jander Number2525, Long, SubstituteG. Long Number2727, Matsuki, SubstituteK. Matsuki Number2828, Mubama, SubstituteD. Mubama Number3434, Welington, SubstituteWelington Number1515, Wood, SubstituteN. Wood away team, PortsmouthManager: John Mousinho

Number11, Schmid, GoalkeeperSchmidNumber2222, Swanson, DefenderSwansonNumber55, Poole, DefenderPooleNumber5555, Dia, DefenderDiaNumber1616, Meghoma, DefenderMeghomaNumber77, Pack, Defensive MidfielderPackNumber3838, Adams, Defensive MidfielderAdamsNumber1111, Kamara, Attacking MidfielderKamaraNumber1717, Shade, Attacking MidfielderShadeNumber2525, Kavuma-McQueen, Attacking MidfielderKavuma-McQueenNumber99, Bishop, StrikerBishopStarting lineupNumber11, Schmid, GoalkeeperN. Schmid Number1616, Meghoma, DefenderJ. Meghoma Number5555, Dia, DefenderM. Dia Number55, Poole, DefenderR. Poole Number2222, Swanson, DefenderZ. Swanson Number3838, Adams, Defensive MidfielderE. Adams Number77, Pack, Defensive MidfielderM. Pack (c), CaptainNumber2525, Kavuma-McQueen, Attacking MidfielderR. Kavuma-McQueen Number1717, Shade, Attacking MidfielderT. Shade Number1111, Kamara, Attacking MidfielderA. Kamara Number99, Bishop, StrikerC. Bishop SubstitutesNumber2121, Anderson, SubstituteK. Anderson Number2727, Bailey, SubstituteO. Bailey Number3131, Bielica, SubstituteD. Bielica Number2424, Devlin, SubstituteT. Devlin Number3232, Kenny, SubstituteE. Kenny Number3737, Mohamed, SubstituteIyad Mohamed Number2929, Marezi, SubstituteMarezi Number1010, Segecic, SubstituteA. Segečić Number1919, Shein, SubstituteR. Shein Close ModalMatch OfficialsReferee: Adam HerczegAssistant Referee 1: Bhupinder GillAssistant Referee 2: Alistair NelsonFourth Official: Ruebyn RicardoMatch StatsKey, Southampton v PortsmouthSouthamptonKeyPortsmouthBasic StatsOverall possessionSOU0%POR0%Southampton 0%Portsmouth 0%ShotsSouthampton 0Portsmouth 00Shots0Shots on targetSouthampton 0Portsmouth 00Shots on target0Goalkeeper savesSouthampton 0Portsmouth 00Goalkeeper saves0Fouls committedSouthampton 0Portsmouth 00Fouls committed0CornersSouthampton 0Portsmouth 00Corners0Head to HeadSeason so farChampionship