How Portsmouth can exploit Southampton weakness under Will Still - it involves Conor Chaplin | OneFootball

It's the biggest game of the season for Pompey on Sunday, and they have reasons to be confident

Anyone from the central part of the South Coast will be able to tell you just how big of a weekend this is for football in Hampshire.

For the first time in 13 seasons, Portsmouth and Southampton will meet in a league clash this weekend, and it has been some journey across both sides of the M27 since they last met in the league - also in the Championship.

Southampton established themselves as a regular Premier League force, reaching cup finals and qualifying for Europe, whilst Pompey almost went out of business and have had to rebuild from the bottom end of League Two.

Despite that, John Mousinho's side have started this season better. Pompey currently sit in eighth spot in the Championship with two wins, a draw and a defeat from their opening league games, whilst Will Still's Saints sit in 13th with one more draw and one less win in the same number of games.

Pompey go into the first derby of the season on an upwards trajectory and, after an impressive end to the transfer window, will be feeling confident that they'll make the short trip home from St. Mary's with all three points.

Southampton have been shaky at the back under Will Still

And one of the reasons that Pompey will feel that they may have the upper edge is due to the frailties that Saints are exhibiting at the back.

It was well publicised that defence was a struggle for all of Russell Martin, Ivan Juric and Simon Rusk in the Premier League last season, and that certainly hasn't immediately shored up upon their return to the second tier.

Still's side are still yet to keep a clean sheet in the league this season, which is music enough to Pompey's ears. However, if you delve a little deeper, then you will see that, in fact, Pompey may have real joy offensively at St. Mary's on Sunday lunchtime.

Saints have conceded the ninth highest xG in the Championship so far this season, which in essence tells you that only eight sides have given up more valuable chances than Still's side in the division thus far.

Furthermore, the notion that this Saints side have a weak underbelly is further undermined by the fact that they rank in the bottom half for both successful tackles per match and clearances per match - in which they sit second bottom.

This tactical match-up may play right into Portsmouth's hands

Naturally, in a game like this, tactics tend to go a little out of the window, although the stats certainly point to Pompey being the worst opponents for Still's side at this moment in time.

Saints aren't a side who like to make too many long clearances, which could massively play into Pompey's hands given that they are one of the highest pressing sides in the division. Alas, only Coventry City (with an average of six times per match) have won the ball back in the final third more often per match than Pompey's 5.5 average so far this season.

This certainly unnerved Preston North End in their last league game, who seemed a little bewildered by the ferocity of the Pompey press. Therefore, there are three certain players who will certainly be keeping Still on his toes ahead of this mouthwatering match-up.

Firstly, Conor Chaplin - who looks like a masterstroke of a signing - is expected to come straight into the starting XI, and his energy, drive and determination are exactly the sort of characteristics that ex-Pompey goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu will not want to see when he has the ball at his feet. Being a boyhood Pompey fan himself, it will naturally mean a whole lot more if he can help Pompey to a famous derby day win.

Secondly, one of the other heavily positive stories around Fratton Park on Transfer Deadline Day was the news that both Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion had failed in their attempts to sign Josh Murphy. The man with the joint-most assists in the league last year will certainly fancy going up against someone like Mads Roerslev, who has not completed 90 minutes yet for his new club.

Finally, Colby Bishop will be eager to prove a point against Pompey's rivals. Having had a slightly tough opening to the season, the arrival of Chaplin means that there is a capable back-up should Mousinho look to utilise the on-loan Ipswich Town man in a striking berth. Therefore, Bishop will certainly look to be a menace to a Southampton defence who don't look the most solid when the ball is played long for him to be able to hold up.

The derby should be a fascinating and absorbing contest, as both sides look to claim bragging rights in what is unarguably one of the biggest rivalries in British football.