by Neil Weld
A much-changed Pompey side lost 2-0 to Southampton in the second south coast derby of the season at the Wellington Sports Ground..
The Blues were victorious on their rivals' patch before Christmas, but were unable to complete a double.
Academy manager Andy Awford rested several players ahead of Wednesday’s FA Youth Cup clash with Swansea at Fratton Park.
But Pompey were not over-awed by their hosts in a tight first half and it took a set-piece for Jordan Turnbull to break the deadlock after the interval, before Dominic Gape secured Southampton's victory.
Awford said: “There was absolutely nothing between the sides in the opening 45 minutes and no clear-cut chances for either team. It was a typical derby game.
“We battled away, but just like in the first team game it took a set-piece to bring the match to life as we conceded a sloppy free-kick that Southampton scored from.
“I played a lot of the older boys who haven’t featured much recently and maybe that showed a bit. We decided to rest some legs ahead of the cup match.
“We enjoyed beating Southampton in two of our last three games, so now we have to take this result on the chin.
“The important thing is how we react – and hopefully we’ll see a better result at Fratton Park on Wednesday.”
Pompey: Gledhill; Tallack (Wheeler 64), Warren, Grant, Butler (c) (Triggs 77); Colson, Awford (Magri 60), Stockford; Maoney, Higgins; Walshe
Subs not used: Wallace, Harris
Southampton: Johns; Young, Mugabi, Turnbull (Colner 79), O'Sullivan; Reed, McCarthy, Gape; Bowman (Ageyiebi 79), Rowe; Ward-Baptiste (Sinclair 70)
Subs not used: Mowthorpe, Curtis