Top Fives: South coast derbies

5. Magilton stars in cup success
7th January 1996

Amazingly, this was the only south coast derby contested between the clubs in a near-16-year period, due to Portsmouth’s absence from the top flight between 1988 and 2003. But the FA Cup third-round draw of 1996 threw up the opportunity for the second-tier strugglers to set their sights on an upset at The Dell. Instead, Saints, established in the Premier League, brushed aside their rivals. Gordon Watson’s run and cross set up Neil Shipperley, whose header was cleared off the line, but Jim Magilton was in the right place to make the breakthrough inside 12 minutes. Saints doubled their lead after half time when Magilton tapped in again, this time after Matt Le Tissier’s shot was parried, before Le Tissier set up Shipperley to complete the scoring.

4. Wigley beats Redknapp
13th November 2004

After three meetings in 2003/04, the barren run of derbies was well and truly over by the time the rivals went head to head at St Mary’s in November 2004. Saints had started poorly, winning just one of their first 12 matches, and were in desperate need of points. Things looked bleak when Lomana LuaLua bravely headed a 12th-minute opener past Kasey Keller, but the hosts were not behind for long. Six minutes later, Dexter Blackstock was quickest to react to some penalty-box pinball, finishing smartly as Pompey appeals for handball against James Beattie fell on deaf ears. When Beattie was sacrificed midway through the second half, replacement Kevin Phillips headed a dramatic winner, just three minutes after coming on, as Wigley defeated Harry Redknapp – his successor in the dugout 25 days later.

3. Pahars scores in St Mary’s rout
21st December 2003

The first league derby at St Mary’s was won convincingly by Gordon Strachan’s Saints, who put their neighbours in their place in Pompey’s first Premier League campaign. Jason Dodd broke the deadlock in bizarre fashion when his 34th-minute corner sailed straight in, much to the embarrassment of defender Sebastien Schemmel, who was unable to clear on the far post. The visitors remained in the game until the midpoint in the second period, when Marian Pahars weaved his way between two players and curled a delightful 20-yard shot into the far corner – his first goal in 15 injury-ravaged months. The prolific Beattie put the icing on the cake with a late diving header, as Saints cruised to victory.

2. Pompey swept aside at Fratton Park
24th September 2019

When the Carabao Cup fourth round sent Saints to Fratton Park, optimism was high in Portsmouth that their team could bridge the two-league gap and spring a famous surprise. But Ralph Hasenhüttl’s Saints were in unforgiving mood, particularly Southampton-born Danny Ings, who celebrated his first south coast derby with a brace that will be fondly remembered for years to come. Scoring twice before half time, the image of Ings on his knees in front of the home fans is already iconic. Saints knew they were safely through when Cédric finished off more good work from Ings 13 minutes from time, but showed no mercy, as Hasenhüttl unleashed Nathan Redmond from the bench to hammer in number four.

1. Moran strikes dramatic late winner
30th January 1984

Another cup meeting, this one was far more evenly-contested, as Second Division Pompey gave as good as they got against their top-flight visitors. The FA Cup fourth-round tie was still hanging in the balance in the dying embers, but there was still just enough time for Saints to launch one last attack. Frank Worthington volleyed into the path of David Armstrong in the inside-right position, whose inviting cross to the far post was met by a thumping volley from the onrushing Steve Moran. Cue pandemonium in the away end behind the Portsmouth goal, as Saints fans rejoiced in the only goal of the game – a goal that remains etched in the history of the club, almost four decades later.