BLOG: Why Saints and Pompey need each other

It's hard to know which big club will be the next to struggle to balance the books.

Last month, Glasgow Rangers chairman Sir David Murray angered rivals Celtic after claiming the Hoops would struggle if Rangers were to go bust.

However, there is a lot to be said for local rivalries which set British football above other European leagues.

Across the continent and the world, derby games are the biggest games of the season. However, the Southampton-Portsmouth rivalry is rarely discussed outside of Hampshire.

This weekend's Solent derby showed both red and blue supporters in Hampshire the importance of the fixture.

The game had everything you would expect from a gritty derby game, with both clubs fighting for their lives. Southampton would be favourites against any opposition in the Championship, but form really does fly out the window when local pride is at stake.

Saturday's exhausting game had brilliant goals, late drama, controversial decisions, a potential red card and more passion than a honeymoon.

Portsmouth and Southampton are clearly heading in different directions. The red half of Hampshire are on the cusp on promotion to the Premier League. Meanwhile, Pompey look set for the drop to the third tier of English football.

It is still unclear what the future holds for Pompey. Financial heartache has troubled Portsmouth for several years, and has culminated in administration and a ten-point deduction.

It Portsmouth are to remain in existence after the summer, they should take inspiration from an unlikely source.

Three years ago, Southampton were relegated to League One after entering administration. It has been a long journey, but the Saints have sorted themselves out financially, and are on the verge of rejoining the promised land. It has been a real role reversal in Hampshire. During Southampton's slump to League One, Pompey will finishing comfortably in the Premier League and were still holders of the FA Cup.

A passionate rivalry gives fans and players extra motivation when it is really needed. Had Portsmouth been playing another top team on Saturday, it is likely they would have faltered and come away empty handed.

Only against the Saints would the current Portsmouth team be able to hit a stunning strike, not once but twice - with the last gasp equaliser coming four minutes into injury time.

It looks like the two teams will not meet for a long time, particularly in the league. However, the potential being there for another Solent derby will mean an awful lot to both sets of fans and players.

Southampton have still not beaten Portsmouth in the league since 2004, and it looks set to remain that way for some time. The most passionate of Southampton fans will not want Pompey to go out of business, solely for the selfish reason of wanting to see their side beat their bitter rivals once again.

Match Report Crystal Palace 0-2 Saints

Crystal Palace 0-2 Southampton

Two goals from Rickie Lambert gave the Saints some breathing space at the top of the Championship - as they easily dispatched of Crystal Palace.

Fellow promotion-chasers West Ham were held at home by Birmingham City, meaning Southampton would all but seal promotion to the Premier League with a win over Reading on Friday.

There may have been some doubts about Lambert's fitness during the 2-2 draw against Portsmouth, but the striker showed why he is the Championship's top scorer by adding his 25th and 26th league goals of the season.

Lambert thought he had opened the scoring from a corner, but the striker's header was ruled out after Jose Fonte fouled a Palace defender.

Five minutes before the break the visitors did take the lead. Once again, Palace failed to deal with a good ball in from Danny Butterfield and Lambert was on hand to easily head his side in front.

Dean Hammond's long-range drive narrowly missed the target as Saints looked for a second goal before the break. However, a good counter-attack from the hosts nearly produced an equaliser, when Chris Martin blazed over after a good move from Wilfried Zaha and Sean Scannell.

Southampton had all but tied up three points ten minutes into the second half. Jack Cork laid on the ball for Lambert who turned outside a Palace defender before lashing a powerful shot home.

Palace came more into the game as Southampton sat back. However, the best chance of the closing stages fell to the away side. Some absent defending from the hosts allowed both Fonte and substitute Guly do Prado headed chances at goal, but both could not beat Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni.

In the end, Southampton cruised to victory in which could have been a banana skin for Nigel Adkins' side. Southampton need seven points from their remaining four fixtures to win promotion to the Premier League. The toughest game of their run-in comes on Friday against second-placed Reading at St Mary's.

Match Report: Saints 2-2 Portsmouth

Southampton 2-2 Portsmouth

A late, late strike from David Norris salvaged an important point for Portsmouth as Southampton returned to the top of the Championship in a thrilling Solent derby.

In what was a hugely entertaining match at St Mary's, Southampton took the lead when Billy Sharp scrambled the ball home just before the half hour mark.

The home side were by no means in control as Portsmouth frustrated the Saints and had their own opportunities.

The visitors did find an equaliser before the break. Chris Maguire stunned St Mary's as he drilled a perfect shot form the edge of the area into the top corner to tie up the scores.

Southampton piled on the pressure, and had several chances to go back in front before the break. However, a string of great stops from Portsmouth goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown kept the scores level after 45 minutes.

Portsmouth should have gone ahead within the first minutes of the second period. Maguire couldn't control his shot and blazed wide from close range.

The second half couldn't quite live up to the intensity of the first 45 minutes. The impressive Adam Lallana creates some great opportunities, but Ashdown was on top form.

Fonte found Lallana in the area and a great turn put him through on goal. Lallana tried to turn past the oncoming Portsmouth goalkeeper, but lost control of the ball.

With time running out, Southampton piled the pressure on the uneasy Portsmouth defence. A great ball in was headed on and Sharp was on hand to side foot the ball home for his second goal of the game.

Initially referee Neil Swarbrick had ruled out the goal for offside, but after consulting with his assistant - the ball has adjudged to have come off a Portsmouth player and Sharp's goal stood.

It looked like Sharp had won the game for Southampton, all but condemning Pompey to the drop. However, deep into four minutes of injury time, Norris unleashed a perfect volley past Kelvin Davis to secure a dramatic point for the visitors.

The points were shared in the Solent derby for the second time this season. The St Mary's clash lived up to all the hype that the teams' first meeting at Fratton Park failed to do. Southampton were the better team, but a Saints win would have been harsh on Portsmouth, who still have a lifeline in escaping relegation to League One.

Southampton return to the top of the Championship table on goal difference against Reading, who Saints face next Friday. Before the crunch game, Southampton face Crystal Palace on Monday as they look for their first win in three attempts.