The lengthy international break has been a period of anticipation for bitter rivals Southampton and Portsmouth, who are eager to get to grips with each other at St Mary’s Stadium on Sunday.
Saints are accustomed to feeling superior over Pompey due to achieving a higher league placing in each of the last 16 seasons, but derby day has been a leveller in recent times with each of the last four meetings seeing the points shared.
Southampton started this season with a four-point deduction but have got off to a decent start with four wins, two draws and two losses from their opening eight games.
Promotion remains the aim for Saints head coach Tonda Eckert and his popularity among Saints fans will increase if he can engineer a victory in such a highly charged fixture.
Portsmouth got off to a slow start to the Championship season, but they steadied the ship with five points taken from their last three fixtures.
Southampton v Portsmouth Tips Summary
Best Bet - Southampton -1 on Asian handicap @ 1/1
Alternative Bet - Finn Azaz anytime assist @ 3/1
Bet Builder - Cyle Larin to score any time, Ebou Adams to be carded & over 2 goals @ 6/1
Southampton v Portsmouth Prediction
Best Bet: Southampton -1 on Asian handicap @ 1/1
Southampton are the only team in the Championship with a perfect home record and they can keep it that way by registering a comfortable victory in the south-coast derby.
Eckert’s outfit were the division’s leading scorers after eight games, and 15 of their 19 goals came on home turf.
Saints have faced a hostile reception in away games and are still searching for their first road victory over the campaign.
But they are well backed by the home fans and should perform at a level which Portsmouth may find tough to match.
Pompey battled to a 0-0 draw at Charlton in their last away fixture, but they have won just two of seven league games and could struggle in what amounts to one of their toughest fixtures of the season.
Alternative Bet: Finn Azaz anytime assist @ 3/1
Southampton have a lot of variety among their attacking options, but their most reliable creative spark is Ireland international Finn Azaz, who has assisted four league goals since the start of the season.
Azaz amassed eight Championship assists over the course of last season and his eye for a killer pass or cross could be key to penetrating Portsmouth.
Southampton v Portsmouth Bet Builder Tip
Cyle Larin to score any time
Ebou Adams to be carded
Over 2 goals
Pays 6/1
Southampton were given a scare during the international break when their star striker, Cyle Larin, picked up an injury while featuring for Canada in a 1-0 friendly success at home to Chile.
Larin was unavailable for Canada’s fixtures against Peru and USA, but concerns over his fitness were allayed by Southampton head coach Eckert, who said that the target man had taken part in training and is ‘sharp and ready to go’.
Eckert seems certain to start his first choice centre-forward and could be rewarded with a goalscoring contribution.
Larin has netted eight goals since the start of the season and his power and pace could be key to the home side securing a high-scoring victory.
Portsmouth may have to spend long periods on the back foot and out of possession.
The visitors will have to make plenty of tackles and a caution looks likely for combative midfielder Ebou Adams, who was carded 10 times during last season’s Championship campaign.
There have been more than two goals in all five of Southampton’s home matches and in three of Portsmouth’s four away games.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
Southampton have won nine of their last 11 Championship home games
Saints are unbeaten in their last 14 Championship home fixtures
Southampton have scored at least two goals in each of their last nine home league fixtures
Both teams have scored in each of Southampton’s last 12 league matches
Portsmouth have kept just one clean sheet in their last six away fixtures
Portsmouth have triumphed on just one of their last nine league visits to Southampton
Read more football betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
