Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho has reflected on the much-talked-about touchline exchange with former Southampton boss Will Still, admitting he found the incident more amusing than confrontational, while also confirming that Southampton’s new manager, Tonda Eckert, will receive a far warmer reception off the pitch this weekend.
Although Fratton Park is expected to be an intimidating and hostile environment for Southampton when the two sides meet in their first league south-coast derby in over 14 years, Mousinho has insisted that professional courtesy will prevail between the coaching staffs. Pompey supporters are eagerly anticipating the derby and will do everything possible to unsettle their fiercest rivals, but Mousinho has made it clear that Eckert will be welcomed into the home dressing-room area after the match.
The backdrop to Sunday’s clash is September’s uninspiring 0-0 draw at St Mary’s, where the post-match narrative was dominated by Mousinho’s prolonged handshake with then-Saints boss Will Still. Still later described the exchange as “strong,” a comment that fuelled debate despite Mousinho initially brushing off the moment with humour. Notably, the Portsmouth manager was never invited into the home manager’s office for the traditional post-match drink.
Still’s tenure at Southampton would end just nine games later, with the club turning to Tonda Eckert, who impressed during a caretaker spell before being appointed permanently. Mousinho confirmed that, regardless of the result on Sunday, Eckert will be invited in for a drink, joking that he would have free choice of whatever was available in the fridge.
Speaking to The News, Mousinho played down the earlier handshake controversy, suggesting it had been overblown. He explained that emotions often run high during derby matches and that moments like that are part and parcel of football. While he stressed that managers are not expected to be friends during matches, he also emphasised the mutual respect that exists between professionals.
Mousinho acknowledged that heated exchanges between managers are common, recalling previous disagreements with fellow coaches, including Frank Lampard, which were quickly forgotten over a shared drink afterwards. In his view, such disputes are trivial and hardly worth the attention they sometimes receive.
Reflecting further, he said that while tensions can occasionally spill over after matches, sometimes resulting in no post-game hospitality, Portsmouth always extend invitations to visiting coaching staff at Fratton Park. He reiterated that he had no issue with not being invited in at St Mary’s, describing it simply as part of the game.
On the footballing side, Mousinho revisited the September stalemate, explaining that Portsmouth’s tactical approach successfully prevented Southampton from settling early on. He felt Pompey were dominant in the first half, which contributed to a subdued atmosphere, though the second half proved more challenging. Ultimately, he considered a goalless draw away from home in such a high-pressure derby a respectable outcome.
Sunday’s meeting, however, is expected to be a very different contest, particularly with Fratton Park hosting its first league south-coast derby since December 2011. That last encounter ended in a dramatic 1-1 draw, with Rickie Lambert putting Southampton ahead before Joel Ward struck late to equalise in front of nearly 20,000 fans.
Mousinho pointed out that the St Mary’s draw marked the third consecutive league stalemate between the rivals, but he is confident the home atmosphere this weekend will be special. He spoke enthusiastically about Fratton Park’s reputation for producing memorable nights, recalling standout matches against Bolton, Barnsley, and Oxford during Portsmouth’s recent campaigns.
Although he admitted the team has not been as free-scoring or fluid this season as last, Mousinho praised the supporters for consistently driving the team forward, particularly in recent home games against Blackburn and Charlton, and even during the high-profile clash with Arsenal.
With emotions sure to run high once again, Mousinho is relishing the occasion, confident that Fratton Park will deliver another unforgettable derby atmosphere.
