Southampton and Portsmouth share stalemate as south-coast rivalry is renewed

Southampton and Portsmouth were forced to settle for a point apiece after the first league match between the bitter rivals in more than 13 years finished goalless.

Pompey midfielder Andre Dozzell went closest to a winner in the Sky Bet Championship clash at St Mary’s, striking Saints’ crossbar during an impressive first-half performance from the visitors.

Will Still’s hosts had the better of the second period but offered little going forward as a highly anticipated south-coast derby fizzled out into stalemate.

Portsmouth sit ninth in the table with eight points from five matches, with Southampton two points behind in 15th position.

Saints have been top dogs in Hampshire since the last league meeting between the clubs in April 2012, twice qualifying for Europe and reaching a League Cup final.

Yet Pompey, who plummeted to the fourth tier amid financial issues during that period, made the 20-mile trip west having enjoyed the better start to the season.

The away team controlled the scrappy opening stages and were unfortunate not to go ahead in the ninth minute when Dozzell’s superb first-time strike from distance rebounded off the bar.

Portsmouth were forced to change goalkeepers in the 26th minute, with Ben Killip coming on after Nicolas Schmid was injured in an earlier collision with team-mate Connor Ogilvie.

The enforced alteration was initially immaterial as Southampton struggled to create until a largely toothless first-half display ended with Killip comfortably collecting Cameron Archer’s close-range flick.

Pompey left-back Ogilvie was replaced by Jordan Williams for the second period, which Saints began with greater purpose.

Archer rounded the onrushing Killip in the 52nd minute after racing on to Regan Poole’s inadvertent flick-on but was unable to finish from a tight angle.

Portsmouth’s 2,700 supporters were forced to travel along the M27 on specially organised coaches amid a heightened police presence due to concerns about potential clashes between rival fans.

Their side were pinned back for much of the second period, albeit goalmouth action remained extremely limited.

Saints boss Still, who was later booked for protesting a decision of referee Matthew Donohue, brought on attacking duo Adam Armstrong and Ross Stewart for the final 15 minutes in a bid to make a breakthrough.

Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis headed over deep into added time after Pompey winger Josh Murphy flashed across goal at the other end during a rare foray from the visitors.

A smattering of boos greeted the full-time whistle as the majority of a crowd of 30,889 went home frustrated following a contest of few clear chances.