James Ward-Prowse says Southampton have taken two steps ahead of Portsmouth clash

James Ward-Prowse believes Southampton have used the international break to take a close look at their performances and identify areas that need improving before Sunday’s highly anticipated South Coast Derby against Portsmouth.

The Championship returns this weekend following a three-week interruption, and attention will be firmly focused on St Mary’s when Southampton welcome their fierce local rivals on Sunday.

For supporters of both clubs, this fixture represents one of the biggest occasions of the Championship season. South Coast derbies have been relatively uncommon in recent years, but the rivalry has been renewed after both teams spent consecutive seasons in the same division for the first time since the 2003/04 and 2004/05 campaigns.

With last season’s league meetings ending in draws, there is an added incentive for both sides to finally claim bragging rights.

Ward-Prowse wants Southampton to respond

Southampton’s preparations have not simply been about the importance of beating their biggest rivals.

The match also represents an opportunity for Tonda Eckert’s side to recover from their disappointing result immediately before the international break.

The Saints travelled to Wrexham for their final Championship fixture before the break and suffered a late 2-1 defeat. That result has given the squad three weeks to think about what went wrong and how they can produce a better performance when competitive action resumes.

Ward-Prowse believes that period has been valuable.

The Southampton academy graduate and former captain explained that the break has allowed the players to reflect on the difficult result while also giving them time to analyse their performances.

Rather than allowing the defeat to dominate their preparations, Southampton now have the opportunity to turn the frustration into motivation.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Ward-Prowse acknowledged that going into an international break immediately after a disappointing result was frustrating, but he also recognised the advantage of having additional preparation time before such an important fixture.

He said the squad could use the interruption to assess their performances, make adjustments and ensure they were ready for the derby.

Two important tasks during the break

Ward-Prowse highlighted two important elements of Southampton’s work during the international break: reflection and analysis.

The squad have had time to examine their recent performances before identifying areas that need to be fine-tuned.

That work will be particularly important against Portsmouth because derby matches often require a different level of intensity and concentration.

Ward-Prowse believes Southampton can use the fixture as an opportunity to demonstrate a response after the Wrexham setback.

He described the derby as a good occasion and acknowledged the disappointment of entering the break following a difficult result. However, he believes the time away from competitive football has given the squad an opportunity to reset.

The former Saints captain expects the players to complete their preparations as the match approaches and make sure they are ready for the challenge.

A rare derby appearance for Ward-Prowse

Sunday’s fixture will carry additional significance for Ward-Prowse because of his longstanding connection with Southampton.

The midfielder has made 416 appearances for the club, with 410 of those coming during his first spell after progressing through the academy. His original Southampton career ended following the club’s relegation from the Premier League in 2023.

Despite making hundreds of appearances for the Saints, Ward-Prowse has surprisingly limited experience of the South Coast Derby.

He has played in only one previous match between Southampton and Portsmouth.

That came in September 2019 when the two clubs met at Fratton Park in the EFL Cup. Southampton were then a Premier League team, while Portsmouth were competing in League One.

The difference in divisions was reflected in the final score, with Southampton producing a dominant 4-0 victory.

Ward-Prowse will now have the chance to experience the rivalry again, this time with the two clubs competing against each other in the Championship.

Another meeting with Portsmouth

Ward-Prowse has faced Portsmouth more recently, although the circumstances were very different.

While playing for West Ham United earlier this season, he came off the bench against John Mousinho’s side in the first round of the EFL Cup.

The midfielder played the final 15 minutes as West Ham secured a 3-1 victory.

His return to Southampton means he will now experience the derby from the perspective of a player who knows exactly what the fixture means to the club and its supporters.

The atmosphere at St Mary’s is expected to be intense, and Southampton will hope that the home crowd can help provide the energy required to produce a strong response.

Southampton’s home advantage

One of the biggest reasons for optimism surrounding Southampton is their outstanding record at St Mary’s this season.

While the Saints have struggled significantly when playing away from home, their performances in front of their own supporters have been far more convincing.

Southampton have won all four of their home Championship matches so far this campaign.

Their attacking numbers at St Mary’s have also been impressive. Fifteen of their 19 league goals have been scored at home, highlighting the contrast between their performances in front of their supporters and their struggles on the road.

Their home record currently reads four matches, four victories, no draws and no defeats.

They have scored 15 goals and conceded only four.

The away record is a stark contrast. Southampton have played four matches on the road without winning, recording two draws and two defeats. They have scored only four goals away from St Mary’s while conceding six.

Those statistics suggest the venue could be particularly important on Sunday.

A chance to end the derby stalemate

If the match were being played at Fratton Park, Southampton’s recent away record could understandably create some concern.

The two clubs have also been unable to produce a winner in their last four league meetings, with the most recent victory in this fixture dating back to November 2004.

That long wait for a league victory makes Sunday’s contest even more intriguing.

However, Southampton’s excellent home form gives them a platform from which to approach the match with confidence.

The Saints have demonstrated that they can perform at a high level in front of their supporters, and the expectation is that St Mary’s will be packed with an atmosphere befitting one of English football’s most fiercely contested local rivalries.

Can Saints produce the reaction?

For Southampton, Sunday’s match represents much more than three Championship points.

It is an opportunity to respond to the defeat at Wrexham, maintain their perfect home record and claim local bragging rights against Portsmouth.

Ward-Prowse knows exactly how important the occasion will be to the club’s supporters.

His message is clear: Southampton have used the international break to reflect on what went wrong and analyse what needs to change. The next step is to put those lessons into practice.

With their impressive home record behind them and a passionate St Mary’s crowd expected to create an electric atmosphere, the Saints will hope the derby provides the perfect opportunity to return to winning ways.

The question now is whether Southampton can turn their preparation into a performance and finally end the recent run of league draws between these two historic rivals.