Southampton

Adam Blackmore
BBC Radio Solent sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

Despite Wednesday's win against Sheffield United, the Saints fanbase is still very much 'jury out' on Tonda Eckert and technical director Johannes Spors.

They have also already decided - with some justification - that owners Sport Republic aren't doing a good job at the helm of their club.

So this derby has a lot hinging on it for everyone at Saints at all levels, from fans to players to manager and to boardroom.

The lack of faith supporters already have will only deepen if they lose at Pompey, especially if they have one of those spells where they fold like a pack of cards.

They did that in the recent second halves at Middlesbrough and Doncaster.

If there is any game where the pressure on them might see them crumble, it's this one - an early Pompey goal and it could be a long lunchtime!

The good news is that Saints have good players in their squad, a number of whom think they should or could be in the Premier League.

So if they play to their ability, wrestle control of the of the game and the tempo off Pompey, then they might use their undoubted talent to win the game comfortably.

But it's the "wrestling" bit I worry about, the resolve to overcome any adversity, that is likely to be the deciding factor in this game.

Image source, EFL

A new initiative highlighting the work of football club charities has been launched by the English Football League (EFL).

'Scan to Smile' will be rolled out in stadiums across the EFL from Friday until the end of January, with supporters invited to scan QR codes on posters displayed around grounds.

Each scan will unlock a short, uplifting story from a person whose life has been positively impacted by the support of their local club charity.

The subjects tackled include mental health support, combating loneliness, improving physical wellbeing, employability and confidence.

The EFL said it hoped the initiative would use "the reach and influence of football to offer fans a moment of positivity on matchday".

Trevor Birch, chief executive at the EFL, said: "Behind every club are people whose lives have been positively changed through the work and dedication of their local EFL club charity.

"This initiative gives supporters the chance to see that impact first-hand and reminds us that football truly is a force for good."

Southampton are facing a battle to hold on to defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis with Burnley interested in re-signing the 23-year-old who spent a season-long loan with the Clarets from Manchester City for the 2022-23 campaign. (Four-Four-Two), external

Read all the latest EFL transfer rumours in Friday's gossip column here.

The South Coast derby is back and it's Portsmouth's time to host as they welcome Southampton to Fratton Park on Sunday (12:00 GMT).

September's clash between the two sides ended in a goalless stalemate but both sides now find themselves in a situation that will require more than just a wish for bragging rights.

The Saints' hopes of play-offs are dwindling with seven points worth of ground to make up, while Pompey are just one point above the relegation line as it stands and firmly in the mix for a return to League One.

• This will be the first time that Portsmouth have hosted Southampton at Fratton Park in league action since a 1-1 draw in December 2011. Overall, Pompey are unbeaten across their last four on home soil against the Saints (W2 D2).

• Southampton are winless across their last four league meetings with Portsmouth (D3 L1), never before have they gone five without win against their South-coast rivals in the Football League.

• Portsmouth have won three of their last five home games (D1 L1), and are looking to win consecutively at Fratton Park for the first time since February/March last year (a run of three).

• After winning their first two away league games under Tonda Eckert, Southampton are now winless in their last five on the road (D1 L4).

• Southampton have conceded in each of their last 24 away league games, their longest run without a clean sheet since a run of 50 between March 1962 and September 1964.

Dan George
BBC Sport, South of England

Image source, Rex Features

Southampton boss Tonda Eckert has said that the south coast derby "means everything" to the football club.

Saints and Portsmouth meet for the second instalment of the bitter rivalry this season on Sunday (12:00 GMT) and both will hope to be able to find a breakthrough this time after September's goalless draw at St Mary's.

Despite being permanent Saints head coach for less than two months, Eckert has been around the club since July last year as head coach of the under-21 side.

The German was in attendance at the home fixture against Portsmouth and got a taste for the hatred between the two rivals.

"It means everything," Eckert told BBC Sport. "I was here for the game earlier in the season and you can feel this as you walk through the stadium.

"You can feel it leading up to the game and these games just feel different. We will need to use this energy and fuel and transfer it to the pitch."

Southampton go into the encounter having ended a winless run of seven Championship games by beating Sheffield United 1-0 on Wednesday.

They currently sit 15th in the table but in a congested and competitive area, seven points off the top six.

Portsmouth have struggled this season and are 21st in the division but have picked up some better form recently, winning 12 points from their past seven league matches.

"It's a special game for both sides and we have to make sure we bring our quality," Eckert added.

"The derby is the most beautiful and important game of the year and there will be moments where we need to dig very deep.

"There will also hopefully be some moments where we can keep the ball on the ground and bring the talent we have on the pitch, and I'm very positive that we can come away with a good result."

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton boss Tonda Eckert was full of praise for his side after they beat Sheffield United at St Mary's to bring a run of seven league games without a win to an end.

Leo Scienza scored a deflected goal for his fourth of the season in the first half for the game's only goal.

Saints then hung on throughout the second to pick up a rare clean sheet and take all three points.

"After a long spell (of not winning) the first win is always the hardest," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"We had to dig very deep and in the end it was just pure desire to win that game of football.

"It comes from so deep inside to grind out games and credit to the boys because they put so much into every minute of the game, today we were much more direct and we got the ball forward a bit quicker."

Saints are next in action on Sunday when they travel to Fratton Park for the second installment of the south coast derby this season.

Image source, Shutterstock

All English Football League games across a four-day period in February will begin one minute late to raise awareness for the Every Minute Matters campaign.

The initiative will be in place for 36 matches across the Championship, League One and League Two between 5 and 9 February.

EFL sponsor Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) have been working together since May 2024 to highlight the importance of speed when it comes to performing live-saving CPR.

Later kick-off times will serve as "a stark reminder that every minute matters", the EFL said.

Bristol Rovers defender Tom Lockyer collapsed while playing for Luton Town eight minutes into the Championship play-off final against Coventry in May 2023.

Lockyer then suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch seven months later during a Premier League game at Bournemouth.

"What happened to me can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time," said Lockyer, who is now a BHF ambassador.

"Every year, more than 40,000 people in the UK suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and most of them never make it home.

"I'm here today because of the transformative power of CPR as every minute matters when it comes to saving a life.

"This February, we want everyone to get behind this life-saving initiative, learn the skills and be ready to step in because your actions could give someone else the chance I was given."

Throughout February, the Every Minute Matters campaign will call on fans to learn CPR using the BHF's online RevivR, external tool.

"Each minute without CPR reduces a person's chance of survival, so we're urging fans to learn the skills now, before you ever need them," said Dr Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive of the BHF.

EFL chief executive officer Trevor Birch added: "The one minute kick-off adjustment is a simple, powerful reminder that swift CPR can be the difference between life and death."

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton boss Tonda Eckert has urged his side to play with "more conviction" as they prepare to host Sheffield United in the Championship on Wednesday night.

Saints are on a poor run of form, having gone seven matches without a win in the league since a 3-2 victory over West Bromwich Albion on 9 December.

Saturday's defeat at home by Hull City left Eckert's side 15th in the table and 10 points adrift of the Championship play-off places.

"It was a tough one on the day and there's only one way to shake it off - to go again and that's what we're going to do," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"I think we need more conviction from very deep inside.

"If you look at the data of the game, and also other games, I think it's very clear [what is going wrong] but there is something fundamental to the game which comes from deep inside and that's what we need to put onto the pitch.

"We are all in the same boat together but it's not about pointing fingers. We have had some very honest conversations, importantly, and I think that's where we move forward as a group.

"Accountability is something that always starts with me for myself, first, and not me for somebody else."

Image source, Opta

Southampton and Sheffield United will seek to get back to winning ways as they meet at St Mary's on Wednesday (19:45 GMT).

Saints went down 2-1 at home to Hull City on Saturday and are now 15th and winless in seven games, taking just three points and scoring five times in that run.

The inconsistent Blades have won three and lost three across their past six games and are one point and two places below their hosts after finishing with nine-men as they went down 1-0 at Charlton on Saturday.

• Southampton have won each of their past five league meetings with Sheffield United; in their Football League history, only against three sides have they won 6+ in a row: Hull (6 from 2011 to 2015), Crystal Palace twice (6 from 1955 to 1958, 7 from 2009 to 2015), and Newport County (8 from 1922 to 1955).

• Sheffield United have lost on their past two league visits to Southampton, but have never lost three in a row at the Saints before.

• Southampton have only lost one of their past 26 home games on a Wednesday in the second tier (W18 D7), although that was to Sheffield United in December 2005 (0-1).

• Sheffield United have won their past two league games on a Wednesday, last winning three in a row on this day of the week in March 2021 in the Premier League.

• Sheffield United's Chris Wilder has lost all five of his league games as a manager against Southampton, only facing Liverpool more without picking up a point (6).

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert believes his side did enough to beat Hull City, despite losing 2-1 at St Mary's.

Ross Stewart pulled a late goal back but the damage was done by first half goals by Kyle Joseph and Charlie Hughes.

Eckert said they were "easy" goals to let in, but wants his team to put the result out of their minds quickly.

"If we look at the stats the game has a very clear direction but the result is a different one. We need to get our heads up and put our chests out.

"There were two moments in the first half where we gave very easy goals away.

"For me the job is to create chances and we had more than enough to have won the game today."

The Saints are 16th in the Championship and winless in seven league games. Eckert says he understands the predicament but is working hard to put it right.

"We need to start winning football games. We have a chance to do this on Wednesday and we'll invest everything to do that.

"I have all of the faith that there is that we will show a reaction. I live and breathe for this football club and I do everything 24/7 to bring it back on the road and that will continue.

Image source, Opta

Southampton will look to get back on track as they host playoff-chasing Hull City on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

After going winless in six Championship games either side of Christmas, claiming just three points, Saints start the day in 15th, nine points clear of the drop-zone and eight adrift of the play-off places, though the highest they could climb with a win is 13th.

The Tigers are seventh, out of the play-offs on goal difference alone, after seeing a five-match unbeaten streak ended by a 1-0 defeat to Stoke in their most recent Championship game on 1 January.

• Southampton have lost three of their past five league games against Hull (W1 D1), having won six in a row beforehand.

• Hull City are looking for their first league double over Southampton since the 1950/51 campaign.

• Southampton average the most possession (57.6%) in the Championship this season, while the Saints have also had the most build-up attacks (70), the most open play sequences with 10+ passes (340), the most passes per sequence (3.9) and longest average sequence time (10.5 seconds) in 2025/26.

• Hull City have won 16 points in their past eight away Championship matches (W5 D1 L2) and since October only Coventry (18) have more away points than the Tigers (16). They have the best points per game in that time, however (2 per game).

• Southampton's Adam Armstrong is the leading scorer in the Championship this season with 11 goals, while he's had the most shots (81) and shots on target (34), although he hasn't scored in his past six games. He did, however, net the Saints' only goal in a 3-1 defeat to Hull earlier this campaign