Goalless at half-time in lively South Coast derby at Fratton Park | OneFootball

Portsmouth and Southampton were goalless at the break in a lively South Coast derby at Fratton Park. According to Sainstmarching.com, Tonda Eckert made three changes and kept faith with a 4-2-3-1 after Wednesday's home win over Sheffield United. Southampton had not won a league game here since 1976 before today.

The visitors should have led on 11 minutes when Finn Azaz slipped in Adam Armstrong, whose low effort from 12 yards was blocked by the keeper’s feet.

On 19 minutes Nicolas Schmid produced a sharp reaction stop to beat away Armstrong’s close-range volley. Millenic Alli then dragged tamely wide for Portsmouth on 22 minutes.

Welington briefly left the field with a nosebleed, then diverted a Chaplin volley over for a corner. Jack Stephens later halted Colby Bishop with a crucial challenge.

Southampton were combative without ever controlling the ball. Portsmouth registered 9 shots to Saints’ 3, yet the better openings fell to the visitors, who worked the keeper twice, while Pompey mustered a soft header into Peretz’s hands and a blocked volley.

James Bree started at right back, with Matsuki preferred to Tom Fellows. Stephens partnered Taylor Harwood-Bellis at centre-back, displacing Nathan Wood and Joshua Quarshie, and Armstrong returned up front in place of Ross Stewart.

Source: Sainstmarching.com