Southampton vs Portsmouth Predictions

• Saints have the best home record in the league with 12 points from four games
• Saints have conceded in each of their last nine games (all comps)
• Both meetings last season ended all square

St Mary’s hosts first South Coast Derby

The first South Coast Derby of the season takes place on Sunday as Southampton host bitter rivals Portsmouth at St Mary’s.

Saints have the top eight in sight despite their four-point deduction and they’ve been perfect at home this season, with four wins in as many games and a hefty 15 goals scored.

Pompey are on a three-game unbeaten run and they should be able to keep things competitive. The visitors will be up for this game and both meetings last season finished as draws, but Southampton’s form at this venue has been incredible and home advantage could prove the difference.

The best angle looks to be backing a Saints win with goals at both ends as Tonda Eckert’s hosts have struggled for clean sheets. Their only shut-out has come against League Two’s Colchester in a cup game, while Portsmouth have a reasonable strike rate with nine goals scored in seven league assignments.

Both meetings were close last season and this could be a fairly tight game, so a 2-1 home win is the pick. Saints have conceded exactly one goal in all of their home league games and Pompey have conceded exactly twice in three of their last five overall.

Cyle Larin suffered a minor injury scare on Canada duty but is fit for the weekend and should start. Larin is the leading scorer in the Championship with seven goals and he’s scored in all of Saints’ home games, he can add to his haul in this derby.