Exclusive: Sky Sports pundit reveals Southampton v Portsmouth score prediction | OneFootball

Lee Hendrie has told FLW his score prediction for Southampton's clash with Portsmouth this weekend

Lee Hendrie has tipped Southampton to earn all three points against their bitter rivals Portsmouth this weekend.

The Saints will host John Mousinho’s side in a 12pm kick-off on Sunday at St. Mary’s in what will be the first meeting between these two clubs since an EFL Cup clash in 2019.

Their last league fixture took place in April 2012, with Portsmouth failing to win any of their last three matches.

Portsmouth’s last victory away to Southampton came in the 2010 edition of the FA Cup, when they were a Premier League side and their south coast rivals were competing in League One.

Lee Hendrie makes Southampton v Portsmouth score prediction

Hendrie has criticised Southampton and the other recently-relegated sides for underwhelming in the opening weeks of the new season.

However, he believes the closing of the summer window should help these clubs and has therefore tipped Will Still’s side to win 2-1 on Sunday.

“I think this is the game of the weekend, for sure, for obvious reasons,” Hendrie exclusively told Football League World.

“Listen, I’ve been disappointed with Southampton, I’ve been really disappointed with some of the clubs that have gone down and have invested and have lost players as well.

“But, you do feel that, I think with this transfer window closing, I think it just gives managers relief, he knows what he’s got in the building.

“And this just might turn the corner for some of them big clubs, knowing that they’re keeping hold of whatever they’ve got as it goes now.

“I think all the deals are pretty much done now.

“So I think Southampton have got to start finding a bit of rhythm as well, you’d think that they’d be right in the thick of things.

“I know it’s still early days, but these are the times where that bit of break now, coming back refreshed and no problems hindering around any of them.

“I just think Southampton would just have that little bit too much.

“I think it’ll be a really good game because Pompey have got off to a decent start, and they’ve built from what they’ve done last season.

“But I’m going to go 2-1 Southampton.”

Portsmouth are ahead of Southampton in the table going into Sunday’s meeting between the two clubs, with Mousinho’s team eighth.

Meanwhile, the Saints are 13th, but only two points separate them in these early stages of the campaign.

Southampton v Portsmouth will be a tense affair

Southampton and Portsmouth supporters have a very bitter rivalry, and the long wait between fixtures will only serve to ramp up that tension.

It has been six years since they last met, but it was at a time when the Saints were two divisions clear of their rivals.

They are now on equal footing, and Still’s side having a slow start will only encourage Pompey further that they can get something from Sunday’s clash.