by Neil Weld
Pompey Academy won the first south coast derby of the season with a 1-0 victory at Southampton.
The Blues were well on top in the first half but had nothing to show for their dominance at the interval.
However, the winner did arrive after the break with a cross from Dan Butler (pictured) inadvertently turned into his own net by Southampton midfielder Harrison Reed.
And things got worse for the hosts 10 minutes from the end when Bevis Mugabi was shown a straight red card following a late lunge.
Academy manager Andy Awford said: “I’m really pleased with the result. We should have been ahead at half-time but missed a few chances – which has been the story of our season.
“It was more even in the second half but we kept plugging away and scored after some good play between Jack Maloney and Dan Butler down the left. We got a bit of luck with the own-goal – something that we haven’t had too much of recently.
“It’s always nice to beat Southampton and I’m delighted with the lads because they had spirit and character in abundance.
“But now we have to look at the bigger picture and hopefully we can build on this result when we host Arsenal next week.”
Southampton: Mowthorpe; Young (c), Mugabi, Turnbull, O’Sullivan (Gape 80); Reed, McCarthy, Curtis; Bowman (Ward-Baptiste 66), Ariybi (Rowe 56); Sinclair
Subs not used: Colner, Johns
Pompey: Gledhill; Wheeler, Grant, Magri (c), Butler; Wallace, Awford, Colson; Williams, Maloney (Higgins 88); Harris
Subs not used: Warren, Branford, Jennings, Antelmi
There was more derby joy for Pompey’s under-16 side with an own-goal and Lewis Horsburgh’s header sealing a 2-1 triumph over Southampton.