"Image source, Rex Features/Getty Images It has been more than 2,000 days since bitter rivals Southampton and Portsmouth last faced each other - a 4-0 victory for Saints in the League Cup in September 2019. Rewind to the most recent league meeting between the pair and you go all the way back to a 2-2 draw in April 2012. Since that moment, the two clubs have been on quite different paths to get to Sunday's highly anticipated derby in the Championship."
"Southampton enjoyed success in the Premier League and a European campaign in those 13 years, while Pompey faced financial troubles and dropped all the way down to League Two before beginning their ascent back to the second tier. That time apart has done nothing to dampen the rivalry between Hampshire's two biggest football clubs, with just 17 miles separating Southampton and Portsmouth."
"Since their most recent league meeting, Southampton enjoyed a run of 11 consecutive seasons in the Premier League, including four top-10 finishes and a taste of European football. Portsmouth have not been in the top flight since the 2009-10 season when they were relegated, and after two Championship campaigns they then suffered back-to-back relegations, falling all the way to the fourth tier."
More than 2,000 days have passed since Southampton and Portsmouth last met competitively, with the most recent meeting a 4-0 League Cup win for Southampton in September 2019 and the previous league match a 2-2 draw in April 2012. Southampton spent the intervening years in the Premier League for 11 consecutive seasons, achieving four top-10 finishes and a European campaign. Portsmouth suffered financial collapse, consecutive relegations from the Championship to League Two, and a lengthy rebuild back toward the second tier. The rivalry remains intense despite the hiatus, fuelled by local proximity of 17 miles and fan mythology about historical incidents.
Read at www.bbc.com
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