Southampton beat Portsmouth in the derby despite playing with ten

Southampton claimed a 1-0 home win over Portsmouth in the South Coast derby, securing their first league victory in the rivalry for more than two decades. The Saints had to finish with ten men after Cameron Bragg was sent off, but still held on for the win.

James Bree put Southampton ahead in the first half. Finn Azaz picked him out with an excellent pass, and Bree got away from Jayden Meghoma before finishing. Bragg, a boyhood Southampton fan, later received a second booking for an unnecessary pull on Ebou Adams. Southampton therefore played the entire second half a man down.

The Saints’ previous league derby victory had come on November 13, 2004, when they beat their rivals 2-1 in the Premier League, with Kevin Phillips scoring the winner. This result also ends a run of four straight draws between the teams.

The win caps a positive week for Southampton, following news that Tonda Eckert had been given a six-week suspended ban by the FA over the “Spygate” saga.