Jamie Redknapp has claimed that the South Coast Derby is more fierce than many other esteemed rivalries in English football.
The former Southampton midfielder wrote about the nature of the fixtures between Saints and Portsmouth in a column for The Daily Mail and warned Ralph Hasenhuttl and his men that it would be a gruelling outing at Fratton Park.
Redknapp played in numerous, high-intensity fixtures over the years, but he clearly regards the South Coast Derby as the most hostile he has experienced. He said:
The most intimidating fixture I ever played in? It was not Liverpool versus Manchester United, nor was it the Merseyside derby against Everton. Tottenham against Arsenal was not my most hostile match, either.
It was Southampton versus Portsmouth. In April 2005, I went to Fratton Park. There were just over 20,000 fans there, but it felt more like 200,000.
The hatred towards us was like nothing I have ever experienced. What added to the vitriol was my dad was Southampton boss, having previously managed Portsmouth.
Ralph Hasenhuttl better prepare himself — and his players — for what could be a feisty Carabao Cup fixture on Tuesday night.
Times have changed, with Pompey now in League One, but the crowd will be up for it. This game is special, and the Saints will not get a warm welcome.
Read Southampton’s verdict
Redknapp’s probably experienced among the most intense, atmospheric derbies in the recent meetings, and his words should serve as a warning to the Southampton players.
While the consensus is that the squad are well aware of what this game means to both sets of supporters, it’s hard to comprehend just how bitter the hatred between the clubs is until you are in such an environment.
Few of our players will have experienced anything like this before in their careers. It’s up to Hasenhuttl to ensure that they are ready for what promises to be a spectacle at Fratton Park.
