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Match Report
Southampton v Portsmouth 21 December 2003
SAINTS THE KINGS OF THE SOUTH COAST
Southampton 3-0 Portsmouth
Richard Jolly reports
Southampton completed a derby double within three weeks to reassert their supremacy on the South Coast as Portsmouth slipped to a second defeat at St Mary's this December.
The Christmas contrast in fortunes in Hampshire increased as Saints are the unlikely occupants of a Champions League place while Pompey's slump leaves them in the relegation zone.
Their major rivals' fans had launched into a chorus of 'going down' even before the freakish and fantastic goals from Jason Dodd and Marian Pahars decided the game Saints' way. James Beattie then rubbed salt in rather raw Portsmouth wounds with an injury-time third.
If scarcely a classic game, it was a day to savour for Southampton and especially memorable for two long-serving Saints. Though there are suspicions it was a Sebastien Schemmel own goal, Dodd may claim a first league goal since February 1999 as he became the first player to score direct from a corner at St Mary's since Artim Sakiri.
Pahars, a more regular scorer until the last 18 months, signified the end of his injury nightmare with a sublime solo strike to quash Portsmouth's attempts of a comeback before Beattie scored his third derby goal of the month.
It was hardly Portsmouth's day and scarcely a game for the purists; kick and rush was very much the prevailing theme of the early exchanges. Dodd stood out, the most composed figure as well as his side's main supply line.
Without Anders Svensson, Graeme Le Saux, Matt Oakley and Fabrice Fernandes, the right back had taken over responsibility for set pieces. One teasing free kick was headed over by Claus Lundekvam as Dodd's delivery appeared the likeliest method of a breakthrough; the method surprised the defender himself.
Schemmel has hardly endeared himself to Harry Redknapp recently. Their relationship was further strained as he headed Dodd's corner against the bar and deflected the rebound in. It was not a derby blunder of Peter Enckelman proportions but the unfortunate Frenchman was hauled off early after picking up a caution; suspension beckons for him.
The effervescent David Prutton twice nearly doubled the lead with a rising drive and an effort Boris Zivkovic blocked. In comparison, the ageing Tim Sherwood suffered and resorted to chopping down Prutton in the closing stages as Portsmouth lost their discipline.
Hayden Foxe, who escaped punishment for bringing down Brett Ormerod when the last man, was another who could have induced referee Jeff Winter to reach for his red card.
And Portsmouth's problems on their travels are mounting. More than nine hours have elapsed since their last away goal and that Richard Hughes was on the pitch to squander their best opportunity is an indication of Harry Redknapp's troubles. Fifteen months without a start, the midfielder was recalled because of six injuries and three suspensions.
Jason Roberts worried Southampton with his physical presence, but his only meaningful contribution was the cross Hughes could not convert. With captain Teddy Sheringham insipid, Redknapp introduced a third striker, Yakubu Ayegbeni, to try and capitalise on Portsmouth's best spell of the game.
Instead, Pahars settled the contest with a 20-yard curler and Beattie, having set his sights with a header and a free kick, got on the scoresheet with a diving header. The provider, once again, was Dodd. In his 16th season with Saints, this was his first encouter with Portsmouth in 382 league games. The wait was worthwhile.
Report From  , For full report and stats, click here.
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