Eng. Championship
2026-10-11 - Southampton vs Portsmouth
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Championship
Sunday 11th October 2026 - Kick Off 12pm
This game is live on TV
Southampton
The only scandal in English Football getting any press or airtime right now involves Manchester City, but Southampton continue to wait to hear what punishment manager Tonda Eckert is going to receive for his part in the 'spygate' scandal at the end of the last campaign. That cost the club the chance of playing in the Premier League and Southampton began the season with a four point penalty, but Eckert's situation remains unresolved.
A three week international break may have felt the right time for any punishment to be handed out, but Southampton return this week and have to try and focus on the big derby against Portsmouth. The Saints are 13th in the Championship table, but they would be as high as 4th without the penalty to begin the season. Home form has been hugely important for Southampton who have a 4-0-0 record at St Mary's where they have scored 15 goals and conceded 4.
Southampton had been unbeaten in 5 games before conceding very late on in the 2-1 loss at Wrexham just prior to the international break. It is a defeat suffered away from home and Southampton are looking to protect a 15 game unbeaten run at St Mary's in the Championship.
Both Daniel Peretz and Cyle Larin returned early from international duty and Southampton fans will be hoping both are available for selection.
Portsmouth
They do have a game in hand compared with the majority of the Championship, but it has still been a relatively mixed start to the 2026/27 season for Portsmouth. Consolidation remains the main ambition for the club, even if John Mousinho will not openly admit that.
Getting one over the big rivals will always be a key part of any season for Portsmouth fans and the South Coast derby will have been circled from the moment the fixtures had been released. The side are 19th in the Championship table, but that can be thrown out of the window as Pompey look to improve the 1-1-1 away record.
Portsmouth are unbeaten in 3 League games since suffering consecutive defeats, although they have earned 5 points from a possible 9 in that run. They have won 1 of the 4 away games played in all competitions this season and Portsmouth have suffered a couple of defeats on their travels.
A host of first team players are expected to miss this fixture through injury.
Head to Head
Last season both South Coast derby matches ended in draws.
Southampton have not won any of the last 3 when hosting Portsmouth, although the last 2 have both ended in draws.
Prediction
You do have to wonder what kind of impact any suspension for manager Tonda Eckert would have on the Southampton players, but they return from international duty expecting to have the German in the dugout this weekend.
Of course the announcement from the FA could come at any time, but The Saints have continued to use St Mary's as a fortress and the majority of the League points earned this season have been at this Stadium.
Maximum points have been earned at home and Southampton will feel they have played well enough going forward to hurt their big rivals.
There is little doubt Portsmouth will feel the same, although they have not been as consistent in the final third.
That could be the difference in this early Sunday kick off as the Championship resumes this weekend, although South Coast derby games have been very well contested in recent times. Last season both ended in draws, but Southampton have looked strong in the final third and that may see them come through with a victory with at least a couple of home goals needed to be in a position to earn those maximum points.
[UPDATE] Tonda Eckert looks to have escaped being given a long suspension, although there may still be a little more of the story to run before he can really become comfortable.
The Pick :
Southampton 2-1 Portsmouth
