Southampton fans will have been delighted to get into the Carabao Cup 3rd round, and now it seems that beating Fulham has gone a long way, as the Saints are set to face Portsmouth in the third round of the competition.
#SaintsFC will travel to #Pompey in the third round of the #CarabaoCup: pic.twitter.com/lFTdPFkoiR
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 28, 2019
The meeting between the two South coast sides is the first since 2012 when they met in the 2011/12 Championship season. For the last time Southampton beat Portsmouth at Fratton Park, the ground this fixture will be played at next month, you have to go back even further than that.
Whilst the Saints are now two divisions ahead of Pompey, the last time they won away at their rival’s home ground was back in an FA Cup clash back in January 1984, as per 11v11. This time, though, the fans are desperate to crush their rivals with a full-strength side.
You can read the Saints’ verdict on the draw here:
Forget the Premier League this is a must win game #Saintsfc
— Calum (@Balum205) August 28, 2019
Smash them. Full team out. Crush their souls.
— – Simon Leigh (@aramiak) August 28, 2019
Full strength for this one – no resting players. If you win one game, it’s this one. Come on Saints!!
— michael paget (@Saintmick66) August 28, 2019
Please embarrass them in their own back yard so we can dine out on it for years like they did when we were league 1 and they were premier League
— James Hearnden (@jameshearnden82) August 28, 2019
The south coast is red and white
— Ewan White (@ewanwhite1999) August 28, 2019
Screw the league, this is all that matters
— Ben Harding (@northamsoul7) August 28, 2019
I hope we start our best XI and embarrass these gorms
— Matt ward (@matt_ward_5) August 28, 2019
Southampton fans are desperate to beat Portsmouth when they face next month and seem happy to lose a couple league fixtures to do so.