The first league meeting between Southampton and Portsmouth for more than 13 years ended in a feisty draw, a slew of yellow cards the giveaway sign that this derby is back on the menu.
Will Still, the Southampton manager, was among those cautioned but, in a typically edgy game short on quality and clear chances, the visitors came closest to scoring, with the Portsmouth midfielder Andre Dozzell curling a first-time shot against the crossbar nine minutes into the contest.
This was a supercharged occasion, with the 2,700 travelling supporters and Pompey team coach bussed in under a police escort.
There was some early needle between Still and his Portsmouth counterpart, John Mousinho, and at the final whistle after a firm handshake Still screwed his face towards Mousinho, for whom this was a better result.
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“Who needs Mourinho? We’ve got Mousinho,” the away fans sang. Southampton, meanwhile, are on six points after five matches, two points behind their fiercest rivals, with the striker Cameron Archer failing to take the hosts’ best chance of the game.
