Saints 1-0 Pompey - Match Thread

[The Kraken]

5 minutes ago, saintant said:

Don't believe so.

Yes, VAR can intervene after a yellow card is given, but only under specific circumstances. [1]

When VAR Can Intervene After a Yellow Card

Mistaken Identity: If the referee cautions or sends off the wrong player of the offending team, VAR can step in to correct the identity of the player. [1, 2]

Second Yellow Cards (Leading to a Red Card): VAR can review a second yellow card if there is clear, factual evidence that it was wrongly awarded and resulted in a player's dismissal. [1, 2]

Upgrading to a Direct Red Card: If a challenge initially punished with a yellow card is actually a serious foul play or violent conduct offense that warrants a straight red card, VAR can recommend an on-field review. [1, 2]

[Wade Garrett]

34 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

There doesn’t have to be, if you’re studs up, off the ground and out of control it can be a red. TBH I agree with that rule as it basically comes down to luck that you haven’t put someone in hospital.

That was called a good challenge in my day and not many of us went to hospital.

[Totton Saint]

What a heroic rearguard action from Saints.   My heart was pounding all of the second half. Aziz was superb.

 

 

[Gloucester Saint]

16 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

They created plenty, they just couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo

Only other opportunity was Swanson skying one but I wouldn’t say ‘he should be scoring’ like I did with Leo or Larin at the start.

Meghoma skied one end of first half from an angle but unlikely to beat Peretz from there anyway. 

[Saint Pete]

Well, we got the win which is really all that matters in these games so everyone rejoice and have a few beverages of your choice this afternoon. But clearly a few concerns and lessons to be learned as well. 

On the positive side, we got the clean sheet we've been looking for and by and large I thought we managed the second half pretty well with 10 men, limiting them to what you would call scrappy chances rather than clear goalscoring opportunities. Azaz has well and truly put to bed any accusations of him being a flat track bully in the early part of his Saints career, he has been immense in quite a few big games now including today, no one can accuse him of not turning up when it matters now. And the move by Tonda to put him up top when Larin tired was very smart, his intelligence on the ball and winning of free kicks really helped us relieve any pressure in the last part of the game. 

But we did of course make it much harder for ourselves than it should have been. I'm a big fan of Tonda and he's done much more right than wrong since he's been manager but I think there's been a few signs recently of him trying to be too clever when it's not needed. I couldn't see any need for changing the formation today, I can understand going to 3 in midfield if we are away to a strong side, but without being arrogant, man for man, we should be way better than Pompey's team so at home off the back of a great home run, why switch formation like that?

I felt unsurprisingly it resulted in us taking time to settle in the first half and also introduced the inexperience of Bragg in a game he wasn't suited to. He clearly fucked up badly with the second challenge but I hope he is not slaughtered for this as he is a young player who has shown enough promise in a Saints shirt so far to think he has the chance to be a decent player if we manage him right. Hopefully he will learn from this experience and sure he will still have an important role to play this season, albeit it is great to see Jander back today and in contention for starts again now. 

[Suhari]

Great, gutsy, battling performance.

Repeating myself from during the match: I really, really expected TE to put Wood on and go 3 CBs. So, so pleased he didn't.

Sticking Azaz up top was inspired too. A much better outball than Divin would have offered.

We're really going to kick on from this past week.

Terrific Sunday. Old Peculiar in the garden while the roast cooks? Oh go on then!

[Midfield_General]

Well, we do like to make life hard for ourselves. 

Even when we were looking good in the first half, the formation looked weird and lopsided on the right hand side. You could argue that it worked as it was where the goal was scored, but Bree was being asked to do a hell of a lot. It looked like either Stephens or JWP were meant to drop in at right back when he was off up the pitch, but neither of them really seemed to know whose job it was, and Pompey were getting a lot of joy in behind down that side. A team with any quality may have punished us a lot more. 

We were way superior until the red card, but I thought Bragg was having a poor game even before that and it was a big call to put him in for such a pressurised game. I'm glad the red didn't cost us the match. He's a Saints fan and a young lad and it could have seriously impacted him. As it is, he got away with one, and hopefully he'll learn from it and use the experience to develop. I really liked how the manager and players all went to him to support him. Great team spirit. 

Pompey were atrocious in the final third. Once they had the extra man they were getting into some good positions, but their crossing was appalling and when they did get a sight of goal they had zero composure. Again, a better side could have punished us. 

But what a fantastic, gritty, fighting performance from Saints in the second half. Really dug in, everyone fighting for each other and giving absolutely everything. Stephens, Schlotterbeck, Bree the warrior with his head stuck together with tape and Downes were all outstanding. Proper dogs of war stuff. 

Azaz though - wow. A stunning performance. His vision and quality of passing is just something else. But then who knew he had that in him as the makeshift number nine, playing with his back to goal, holding it up and giving us an out ball? He was asked to play three different roles during that game and was different class in all of them. 

Very interesting that when it came to the crunch Tonda chose to play him up there and leave Mubama on the bench. He mentioned more than once in his post-match interview on Sky that he needed someone up there he knew he could trust. Goes to show the very high regard in which he holds Azaz, and is maybe quite telling that he realises that Mubama is not quite ready yet. 

To give them an extra man for half the match and still beat them though, it doesn't get much sweeter than that. It's been a long time coming but we deserved it. 

And a final word to the fans, who were absolutely magnificent from the first minute to the last. The place was rocking and our fans were all you could hear. 

What a week. Spygate finally behind us, Tonda in the dugout and out-fighting that lot with ten men for a win we fully deserved.

COYS

Edited 15 minutes ago by Midfield_General

[stknowle]

33 minutes ago, saintant said:

He did look absolutely devastated. Being a lifelong fan of the club and an academy product it's easy to understand him taking it so badly - he knows the passion and feelings over these derby games and would have been gutted at his actions putting the result in jeopardy.  I'm glad for him that the boys were able to dig in and get the win. He'll learn from it although I know there are some on here who don't rate him but I think he has lots of potential.

I really liked the way Scienza, Stephens etc consoled him on his way off the pitch. Not even the slightest hint of criticism. It’s indicative we’ve got a really tight knitted squad looking out for each other, doubtless galvanised by last season’s debacle. Good times lay ahead imo.

[Saint_clark]

2 minutes ago, Suhari said:

Great, gutsy, battling performance.

Repeating myself from during the match: I really, really expected TE to put Wood on and go 3 CBs. So, so pleased he didn't.

Sticking Azaz up top was inspired too. A much better outball than Divin would have offered.

We're really going to kick on from this past week.

Terrific Sunday. Old Peculiar in the garden while the roast cooks? Oh go on then!

It was, but I did think at around 85 that Azaz could do with coming off for Mubama, he was dead on his feet and Pompey were pushing so high in every position that just pumping the ball down the line for Mubama to chase would have been an excellent out option. 

But, hard to criticise when it worked. 

[East Kent Saint]

Fortunately P were fairly toothless , and our final thin red and white line held out . I would have liked to see a few more goal bound chances from us but happy with the win after so many years.

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, WokingSaint said:

My thoughts. Azaz made a number of good passes. No one seems to agree with me but Bragg did not deserve to be sent off. There were many fouls in the match from both teams that went unpunished. Not every foul deserves a booking. Bragg hardly touched the  player for the second one. Great second half performance in the circumstances.

Second was an obvious booking. A petulant shirt tug.

[Saint_clark]

Is that the first win for either side in a league meeting since 2005? 

[Zorba]

1 minute ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Second was an obvious booking. A petulant shirt tug.

..and if he hadn’t pulled him back, it could’ve been 1-1. 

So we have Cameron Bragg to thank for the win.

Cheers Cam 👍🏼

[rallyboy]

No problem with the two yellows for Bragg, bless him, he knows what he did and will learn from it, but many complaints about the appalling inconsistency of the ref who failed to give a number of yellows to opposition players.

And Pompey were hilariously dreadful.

Day topped off by finally saying hello to our spiritual leader Steve as we left the Pompey fans to fight a fence and some rather incontinent horses.

Farmer Grant allows us all to use his land to plant our thoughts, I salute him.

 

[trousers]

17 minutes ago, Saint Pete said:

I'm a big fan of Tonda and he's done much more right than wrong since he's been manager but I think there's been a few signs recently of him trying to be too clever when it's not needed. I couldn't see any need for changing the formation today, I can understand going to 3 in midfield if we are away to a strong side, but without being arrogant, man for man, we should be way better than Pompey's team so at home off the back of a great home run, why switch formation like that?

That was my question before kick-off. Whilst things turned out well in the end, it did smack of over-thinking on Tonda's part to me.

Edited 1 hour ago by trousers

[The Kraken]

3 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

Is that the first win for either side in a league meeting since 2005? 

Seems so, that’s what BBC are saying.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/ckr5ym1lv6qmt

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

Google AI says: Southampton defeated Portsmouth 1–0 in the EFL Championship at St Mary's Stadium on October 11, 2026, marking Southampton's first league win over Portsmouth in 22 years and the first league victory for either side in the fixture in 21 years. 

Edited 1 hour ago by The Kraken

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, The Kraken said:

Seems so, that’s what BBC are saying.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/ckr5ym1lv6qmt

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

Yeah, two draws in 2011/12 and two more last season. 

[Saint_clark]

Mad really. That's why the fixture means so much, when a win is so rare.

[skintsaint]

1 minute ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Yeah, two draws in 2011/12 and two more last season. 

Yeah 1st win in 5 leagues games doesnt sound as dramatic.

[beatlesaint]

Interesting to hear Tonda admit on Solent after that he relied a lot more on emotions today over tactics.

 

[Gloucester Saint]

7 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

Mad really. That's why the fixture means so much, when a win is so rare.

Hasn’t been any different all my life frequency wise for the fixture taking place.

I’m 50 next year, first derby 83/84 but far too young for my dad to take me to that. Then the 2-2 in 87, infamous 0-2 in 88.

Then nothing until Jan 1996 and a one-sided 3-0. Then League Cup 2-0 with the Bates ‘silence’, 3-0 Marian goal and 1-0 loss down there. 2-1 and 4-1 04/05. FA Cup 5th round 2010, two draws 2011/12, League Cup where we walloped them 0-4 2019, two draws last season and today.

That’s it since 1976/7 I think?

Edited 1 hour ago by Gloucester Saint

[Saint_clark]

7 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

Yeah 1st win in 5 leagues games doesnt sound as dramatic.

But does emphasise what makes it so special, so few league meetings in such a long time. Imagine trying to get hyped for the North London or Merseyside derby where you play each other every season and you've got a dozen wins in the last 20 years.

Edited 1 hour ago by Saint_clark

[Gloucester Saint]

2 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

But does emphasise what makes it so special, so few league meetings in such a long time. Imagine trying to get hyped for the North London or Merseyside derby where you play each other every season and you've got a dozen wins in the last 20 years.

Emphasises why James Bree made history today in a way that few of those regulatory occurring games does.

Despite Boro’s attempts to begin a rivalry today just underlines why that’s so unlikely. You can’t replicate it.

[Roo1976]

40 minutes ago, Totton Saint said:

What a heroic rearguard action from Saints.   My heart was pounding all of the second half. Aziz was superb.

 

 

Azaz,was very lucky to have stayed on................Scienza should have wrapped it up....Bragg made it difficult for us,but we held out. Good to see Jander playing some part, overall pleased we finally beat them in the league.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Highly amusing watching those cunts try and pull the fences down. Thought they would have kept them in the ground for a bit after the whistle.

 

[Colinjb]

2 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Highly amusing watching those cunts try and pull the fences down. Thought they would have kept them in the ground for a bit after the whistle.

 

Sadly, thanks to those twats the bubble arrangements for this fixture remain a good idea.

[Oldandtired]

Just watching it on sky after getting in from the match... who's the tired old has been bag of wind co commentating? Not exactly impartial.

[Tamesaint]

According to my fitbit my normal heart rate is 56 pm. As injury time started it was 106!! 

Not as bad as the playoffs final. when it reached 120. 😀😀

 

Edited 49 minutes ago by Tamesaint

[Vancouver Saint]

On 10/10/2026 at 05:26, Saint_clark said:

Mate, have an early night and set an alarm, you don't want to miss our first home win against them since 2005!

Caught the last 15 minutes...nerve-wracking but worth it!

[Britannia]

Can't imagine what my blood pressure was for 60+mins.  

[LGTL]

They tried to pull down the fences, and lost that too. 

[Britannia]

No Police on Charles Watts Way on my way back.

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, Britannia said:

No Police on Charles Watts Way on my way back.

Bit of a dispersal but looks minor compared with 16 years ago

https://www.facebook.com/dailyecho/videos/riot-police-move-in-to-move-on-saints-fans-outside-st-marys/1415507186727232/

[Lee On Solent Saint]

18 minutes ago, Colinjb said:

Sadly, thanks to those twats the bubble arrangements for this fixture remain a good idea.

I actually thought their fans were absolutely shite. Hardly anything from them inside the ground. 

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

I actually thought their fans were absolutely shite. Hardly anything from them inside the ground. 

You’re not alone it seems in that view https://www.facebook.com/PortsmouthFCTheNews/posts/got-lots-wrong-today-pathetic-league-one-attack-pompey-fans-react-to-defeat-to-s/1527269752754788/

Mousinho and Colby Bishop receiving the worst of the blue backlash.

[cambsaint]

A superb performance with 10 men. Azaz immenxe, but how many times was he fouled in the second half with no booking.

My first derby match was 64 years ago , I think we won but it sticks in my mind for the first adult fight  I saw. In those days the rivalry was intense but not bitter..We were in our usual  places in the Milton End and the Pompey Matalo mascot was standing in some dockers usual place. A brief fist fight ensued quickly stopped by two massive coppers who hauled them out but with the Matalo bleeding profusely from a busted nose .

funny how some things stick vividly in your mind for many many years when most other things are completely forgotten.

One other thing that sticks in my mind from that era is George O'Briens magnificent penalty taking. Everyone knew where they were going , hiiting the right hand back stantion , I never saw anyone get near them.

[Gloucester Saint]

24 minutes ago, Oldandtired said:

Just watching it on sky after getting in from the match... who's the tired old has been bag of wind co commentating? Not exactly impartial.

Andy Hinchliffe I think it was. Either that or Don Goodman. Neither of them like SFC.

[stknowle]

4 minutes ago, cambsaint said:

A superb performance with 10 men. Azaz immenxe, but how many times was he fouled in the second half with no booking.

My first derby match was 64 years ago , I think we won but it sticks in my mind for the first adult fight  I saw. In those days the rivalry was intense but not bitter..We were in our usual  places in the Milton End and the Pompey Matalo mascot was standing in some dockers usual place. A brief fist fight ensued quickly stopped by two massive coppers who hauled them out but with the Matalo bleeding profusely from a busted nose .

funny how some things stick vividly in your mind for many many years when most other things are completely forgotten.

One other thing that sticks in my mind from that era is George O'Briens magnificent penalty taking. Everyone knew where they were going , hiiting the right hand back stantion , I never saw anyone get near them.

Gotta ask as not around in those days, who/what was ‘Matalo’?

[The Kraken]

2 minutes ago, stknowle said:

Gotta ask as not around in those days, who/what was ‘Matalo’?

Assume he means Matelot, it’s an old term for a sailor.

[Turkish]

27 minutes ago, LGTL said:

They tried to pull down the fences, and lost that too. 

Are they now the fence rattlers?

that video was funny, pulling a fence down then standing there shouting come on then over and over again. Embarrassing 

[sfc4prem]

3 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Are they now the fence rattlers?

that video was funny, pulling a fence down then standing there shouting come on then over and over again. Embarrassing 

All talk. Full of shit.

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

Town must be good right now if fans have stayed and celebrated!

Edited 8 minutes ago by JohnnyShearer2.0

[Gloucester Saint]

4 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

All talk. Full of shit.

Just 4 arrests, all Southampton-affiliated.

[Gloucester Saint]

 

[bpsaint]

 

What a result, what a game. Still can’t believe we held out that entire second half. How we could have done with another big man up top to hold then line when Larin went off. Stuff of legend that result will be, holding out for a win with ten men for the best part of an hour against the filth.

Special mention to the skate fans in the ground today who were absolutely shite, just like last season. Another portsMYTH shattered about their non stop raucous support even when losing. 

[Toadhall Saint]

Cry me a river