This Week's Opposition: Southampton

A closer look at the Blues' rivals ahead of Sunday's South Coast Derby at St Mary's.

For the first time in a league setting in over 13 years, the South Coast Derby is back!

John Mousinho’s side, alongside 2,700 Pompey fans, make the trip down the road to St Marys this weekend.

MANAGER

Will Still will be in the dugout for the hosts.

Still started out as assistant manager for the Preston North End’s Under-14s and continued his studies to become a football coach.

He managed the likes of Lierse and Beerschot in the Belgian First Division B, before moving on to Reims in the French Ligue 1, where he went through the ranks as assistant to caretaker to becoming the youngest manager in Europe in 2022/23 aged 30.

Still became the manager of Lens in Ligue 1 before announcing his departure this May to become the new head coach of Southampton.

The now-32-year-old put pen-to-paper on a deal after the club’s relegation back to the Championship was confirmed, 7 weeks before the final game of the Premier League season.

ONE TO WATCH

Our one to watch for this game is midfielder Shea Charles.

Charles progressed through the Manchester City youth teams, becoming a key player for their Under-23s during the 2021/22 season, in which they won the Premier League 2.

In July 2023, the Northern Ireland international joined Southampton on a 4-year-deal. Charles went out on loan last campaign to Sheffield Wednesday, where he joined his younger brother and goalkeeper Pierce Charles.

Whilst with The Owls, he was nominated for the EFL Championship Young Player of the Year award in April and was presented with Sheffield Wednesday’s Player of the Year at the final home game of the season.

TOP SCORER

With 2 goals, Ryan Manning is the club’s leading scorer in the league.

The Irishman began his career with Mervue United before joining Galway United prior to moving across the water to England in 2015, signing permanently for Queens Park Rangers.

After 5 years at Loftus Road, which included a loan at Rotherham United, Manning went on to play 3 years at Swansea City before moving to the South Coast in 2023.

Manning made 27 appearances in the top flight last term and his first goal for the club came on the opening day of this season, scoring a 90th minute equaliser in a 2-1 win over Welsh outfit Wrexham.

CURRENT FORM

Southampton were relegated from the Premier League last season, finishing 20th with only 12 points, the division’s second-lowest points total since its inception in 1992.

Will Still’s side currently sit in 13th - 5 places and 2 points behind Portsmouth, after accumulating 1 win, 2 draws and a loss.

They are still present in the Carabao Cup after winning 3-0 away at Norwich City in the Second Round.

Can the Blues stay above their fierce rivals in the table and potentially even take all 3 points from the South Coast Derby?

If you're not heading to St Mary's, be sure to catch all of the unmissable action here on Express FM from 11am on Sunday (September 14th) with Jake Smith, Charlie Sinclair and James Wilson.

Kick-off: 12pm!