As Southampton prepare to take on arch-rivals Portsmouth at Fratton Park, there has been a growing debate among pundits about where the derby ranks among some of the best and most heated in the game.
Former Southampton midfielder Jamie Redknapp recently ranked it above the Merseyside derby, while ex-Manchester City defender Danny Mills has found his name in the headlines after slamming the concept of the rivalry completely.
Twitter: “You think of derbies in Glasgow, Istanbul, Rome… Hampshire? No.” ❌
“It doesn’t stand out as the nastiest!”
“Wh… https://t.co/xkaogHKSRk (@talkSPORT)
These fans on Twitter have hit back at the former defender for what they believe to be ‘uneducated’ claims.
Twitter: @talkSPORT Why don’t you come to fratton tonight, mate? (@IncisiveIngs)
Twitter: @talkSPORT Nobody compares it to the biggest in europe what is he chatting? In england it’s in the top ten easily. (@Hilly69er)
Twitter: @talkSPORT He’s wrong and as per usual he’s got no idea. There’s pure hatred there that goes back years to when the… https://t.co/8Ltk6lsUIV (@DavidPalman)
Twitter: @talkSPORT Just because he has nothing to do with either team doesn’t mean they don’t exist… How self-important can you get? ? (@dgetliffe)
Twitter: @talkSPORT Doesn’t matter what he says or thinks. Biggest game in football for Saints and Pompey fans (@Donny1066)
Read Southampton verdict
It’s quite simply ludricious from Mills to suggest that this game is not a derby or even a meaningful one at that.
Supporters of both Southampton and Portsmouth replied in their numbers to make their feelings clear and if that doesn’t give you a sense of the occasion from both sides, then Mills is clearly missing something here.
Nobody is suggesting that this is the most high-profile derby around, of course there are bigger and more glamorous games, but you don’t need to be Barcelona or Real Madrid to have a rivalry with a team that has been forged through a deep history.
