The Blues remain in 19th place after a Derby Day defeat at St Mary's.
Despite chances to claw back a goal against 10 men, John Mousinho’s side fell short and could not quite respond to James Bree’s opener.
Portsmouth have 7 games in the space of just over 3 weeks ahead before the second international break of the season.
Mousinho made some calls with the line-up this afternoon, with goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid coming back into the XI, as Daniel Bielica dropped to the bench.
Adrian Segečić also dropped out with Colby Bishop coming in, plus Regan Poole for the absent Conor Shaughnessy, and Ebou Adams for Rocco Shein.
Cyle Larin broke the line and gave Pompey a warning sign early on as he beat Madiodio Dia to create himself in a one-on-one with Schmid, who dropped down to safely swipe the ball away from the Canadian forward.
The Blues did actually control the majority of the first phase, with Tyrese Shade teeing up Jayden Meghoma, whose effort was saved by Daniel Peretz.
It was the hosts who took the lead 20 minutes in, as Finn Azaz played a diagonal ball into the box, where Bree arrived to make it 1-0.
But moments before half-time, Cameron Bragg was shown a second yellow card after he pulled the shirt of Adams, leaving referee Adam Herczeg no choice but to give the Winchester native a second yellow.
Pompey then almost equalised just seconds later from the set play, as Zak Swanson laid the ball off for Meghoma, as his left-footed in-swinging cross found Bishop, but the Blues number nine’s header was palmed away.
Ryan Kavuma-McQueen also posed an encouraging threat when he burst forward, but the Chelsea loanee’s shot went just wide of the inside of the post.
HALF-TIME: Southampton 1-0 Portsmouth
Mousinho made a change at the break, as Kavuma-McQueen was replaced by Segečić ahead of the second 45.
Léo Scienza went away on the counterattack and could have doubled the hosts’ lead, but Schmid palmed the ball away with his right glove.
Azaz was then lucky not to be given a straight red card when he lunged in on Adams, but the Ireland international was only given a yellow card.
Pompey kept having most of the play in the attacking phase and Abu Kamara’s ball across goal fell kindly to Swanson, but the full-back’s attempt went over the bar.
Swanson then teed the ball into the six-yard box where Bishop and Shade were ready to pounce, but Keven Schlotterbeck cleared the ball off the line.
Portsmouth sub Marko Milovanović had a chance three minutes into the 5 added on, but the Serbian striker could not quite finish off Odin Bailey’s ball at the near-post.
FULL-TIME: Southampton 1-0 Portsmouth
Southampton: 1. Peretz (GK), 14. Bree, 5. Stephens (C), 13. Schlotterbeck, 3. Manning, 30. Ward-Prowse, 26. Bragg, 4. Downes, 7. Scienza (27. Matsuki), 10. Azaz, 9. Larin (8. Jander) (Formation: 4-2-3-1)
Unused subs: 12. Long (GK), 11. Dobbin, 15. Wood, 18. Fellows, 23. Edozie, 28. Mubama, 34. Wellington
Goals: Bree 20’
Bookings: Bragg 44’ (second yellow card), Larin 51’, Azaz 53’, Schlotterbeck 82’
Head coach: Tonda Eckert
Portsmouth: 1. Schmid (GK), 22. Swanson (14. Anderson), 5. Poole, 55. Dia, 16. Meghoma (24. Devlin), 7. Pack (C), 38. Adams (27. Bailey), 25. Kavuma-McQueen (10. Segečić) 17. Shade, 11. Kamara, 9. Bishop (29. Marezi) (Formation: 4-2-3-1)
Unused subs: 31. Bielica (GK), 19. Shein, 32. Kenny, 37. Mohammed
Bookings: Adams 34’, Meghoma 53’, Devlin 69’
Head coach: John Mousinho
Referee: Adam Herczeg
Venue: St Mary’s Stadium
Attendance: 30,735 (including 2,500 Pompey fans)
Listen back to Jake Smith, Graham Butterworth and Danny Thompson's reaction by downloading the latest Pompey Live: Extra-Time podcast!
Join Jake, Tom Chappell and Ryan Honey on The Football Hour on Monday (October 12th) evening from 6pm for further reaction to the match and a look ahead to the midweek clash with Sheffield United at Fratton Park.
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