“One of the biggest games of the season” – head coaches Parker and Sadler ahead of Southampton v Portsmouth in WSL2’s south coast derby | OneFootball

Simon Parker and Jay Sadler (Southampton FC)

The south coast derby is always fiercely contested – and Saturday’s WSL2 clash between Southampton and Portsmouth at St Mary’s will be no different.

But on Thursday evening Saints boss Simon Parker and Pompey boss Jay Sadler shared a desk for a pre-match press conference.

And both shared the same sense of excitement for a big occasion.

“It’s probably one of the biggest games for us of the season, the local derby at home, and to be playing in front of at least 6,000, [who] have already got tickets, yeah, we’re really excited for it,” Parker told SheKicks.net.

“The feeling’s mutual for us. It’s a big game, always has been a big game, whether it’s the men’s or the women’s. For us, travelling down to St Mary’s, hopefully bringing a large contingent of Pompey fans as well, it’s going to be one we’re looking forward to,” added Sadler.

But that being the case, both head coaches are focused on the need to get a result to help their WSL2 campaigns – not simply to secure local bragging rights.

“It is a massive game and we can’t shy away from that,” said Parker, whose Southampton side are currently seventh in the table but only four points off Bristol City in third. “It’s a game that does mean a lot and we’ve got a few players who have come through the system so they understand the importance of it.

“It is important that we don’t just play the occasion. We have to play what’s in front of us, the game.”

Simon Parker: I’m really happy with my Southampton players

Southampton players Megan Collett and Aimee Palmer told SheKicks.net earlier in the week that their young squad was learning game by game – and taking every opportunity to progress.

“When you work with quite a young squad, there’s obviously going to be those moments of inexperience or learning opportunities,” explained Parker. “We’ve seen it quite a bit in our games, whether it’s conceding a few goals very close to each other or when maybe something hasn’t gone our way, we’ve seen it maybe affect us more than it should, but that’s the learnings that will happen naturally.

Simon Parker and Jay Sadler (Southampton FC)

“They’re a hungry group. They want to learn, they want to develop, so we have obviously a lot of the analysis sessions and stuff, and so there’s a lot of opportunities to learn based off of the games that we’ve had, so it’s a natural thing that’s happened because of the situation we find ourselves in.

“I’m really happy with all the players. Meg and Aimee, they are two of the more experienced players. Even if Meg is really young, she’s been around for a little while and she’s been at the club for a number of years. Their experience is massive with that young group.”

Jay Sadler: This is a huge game for Portsmouth

Sadler’s Pompey are second from bottom, with seven defeats out of their 11 league matches this season, but the closeness of the league means that one win could make a big difference.

“I know everyone talks in terms of league position. We’re obviously five [points] off Southampton and five off [bottom club] Ipswich.

“So although [we are] precarious in terms of the position we’re in, it’s obviously a big game in terms of what the repercussions of it could be for us as a club.”

Portsmouth were promoted to the second tier at the end of 2024-25, necessitating plenty of research from Sadler.

“Everyone talks about the experience you have when you go up to Maiden Castle [to play Durham], when you are playing in the games against Southampton, or you are playing against some of the top teams in the league. I think we didn’t realise how big the jump was, how the quality is only increasing game on game and year on year.

“This year the influx of top-quality players that a lot of teams are recruiting – teams in our league are bringing WSL quality players now into the division, and the games are getting tighter, tactically the games are way more complex, and I think it’s only making a better product and I think the game will only continue to grow.

“I do think the more teams we can get in the division, the more the game will continue to grow and the bigger the pool of players given the opportunity to play at this level. The quality in this level now is increasing. You only have to look at some of the League Cup fixtures and the results. Both of us [Southampton and Portsmouth] played against West Ham, played against Brighton and the gaps are closing in some of those fixtures, so I think that’s good for the league.”

“The quality of WSL2 is improving”

And Parker, who returned to Southampton last summer following two years with Blackburn Rovers, agreed.

“The quality [of WSL2] is definitely improving. You’re seeing a lot of those WSL players dropping down into the league and you’re also getting some foreign players as well, some internationals from overseas, and with more of the professionalism within the league, the finances, the resources that clubs have helps with that.”

Sadler also took time to praise the depth of the women’s pyramid, having spent eight years of his ten at Portsmouth outside the WSL structure.

“Before the Lionesses won the first Euros, we were talking about how do we grow the game and grow participation levels. I don’t think you have to grow participation levels now. I think you have to grow professionalism.

“And with that, I think there are a number of things that can happen in terms of increasing teams in the league, increasing prize pot.

“But in terms of the leagues in itself and the amount of people now participating and the amount of people who want to play in the pro game, I think it’s something we should be proud of, but something we should also continually push and try and grow.”