:00:52. > :00:57.Portsmouth and Southampton. Two south coast seafaring cities with
:00:57. > :01:03.plenty of history. Three years ago, Portsmouth paraded through the
:01:03. > :01:10.streets having won their first FA Cup in 69 years. They sailed into
:01:10. > :01:16.Europe, but then came choppy waters. Portsmouth's Cork! A famous, famous
:01:16. > :01:18.goal. They take the lead against AC Milan. Relegation and
:01:18. > :01:23.administration have followed as they seemed to be a couple more
:01:23. > :01:28.managers and owners than point. On the brink of liquidation, the club
:01:28. > :01:33.was almost sunk. Michael Appleton has steadied the ship, unbeaten in
:01:33. > :01:37.three. And just as things have improved for Pompey, they could
:01:37. > :01:42.hardly be better for Southampton, on course for the Premier League.
:01:42. > :01:46.But it has all not been plain sailing either. Relegation from the
:01:46. > :01:50.Championship in 2009 with a 10 point deduction for good measure.
:01:50. > :01:54.But where Pompey floundered, of the St Paul together. A new boss,
:01:55. > :01:58.impressive football and chasing back-to-back promotions -- the
:01:58. > :02:02.Saints pulled together. Top of the Championship and almost double the
:02:02. > :02:07.point of their rivals. Portman Southampton, near-neighbours off
:02:07. > :02:11.the pitch, worlds apart on net that Portsmouth and Southampton.
:02:11. > :02:15.This afternoon, they go toe-to-toe at Fratton Park where it is fair to
:02:15. > :02:20.say the atmosphere is rather excitable. A famous ground, a
:02:20. > :02:26.famous fixture in the Kompany of the famous faces. I am joined by a
:02:26. > :02:31.saint and a sat-nav. Alan Shearer and Steve Claridge. -- they Sinnatt.
:02:31. > :02:34.Steve, how much of your heart belongs to a team you managed and
:02:34. > :02:39.played for a mess City where you grew up? It is the same sort of
:02:39. > :02:43.question you could ask Allen, it is where I was born, so from a
:02:43. > :02:47.football perspective, I probably had better times. But to play for
:02:48. > :02:52.your hometown club, it gives you an extra special place in your heart.
:02:52. > :02:56.This second goal, you have confirmed it is all about the
:02:56. > :03:01.movement and not bad defending. manager said, don't bother marking
:03:02. > :03:06.him. Got away with that one. A very grumpy looking at Roy Keane. You
:03:06. > :03:11.have spent the last 20 minutes looking out of the window. I love
:03:11. > :03:17.the atmosphere, saying 50-year-old men shouting things I have never
:03:17. > :03:23.heard in my life. As a player, you played for Southampton. You went at
:03:23. > :03:29.your most prolific, but Alan Ball... It was probably the best thing I
:03:29. > :03:34.had ever done, moving away from Newcastle to learn my trade. That
:03:34. > :03:39.is everything I haven't got now, pace and hair. I really did love it
:03:39. > :03:43.down there, I learned a lot, learn how to live away from home, which
:03:43. > :03:46.is important, but learned my trade and it stood me in good stead.
:03:46. > :03:51.Lovely to have the with us and I know the home and away fans have
:03:51. > :03:55.been pleased to see you. This week, I was reading about how HMS victory,
:03:55. > :04:00.which is in Portsmouth harbour at which Nelson sailed to victory.
:04:00. > :04:03.They are spending �40 million to renovate it, I'm sure the football
:04:03. > :04:08.fans could think of something that needs those millions. What is the
:04:08. > :04:12.latest with what is happening off the field with Portsmouth?
:04:12. > :04:17.parent Kompany has gone into administration. So far, it hasn't
:04:17. > :04:21.affected the club, but there will be repercussions. Everybody is
:04:21. > :04:25.waiting for decisions to be made. You can assimilate that with
:04:25. > :04:30.Southampton, who did the same thing and were docked a point, because
:04:30. > :04:33.they were inextricably linked. -- points. There is a feeling of dread
:04:33. > :04:38.and probably knowing what is going to happen, but the decision hasn't
:04:38. > :04:42.been made so there is still hope. They are very unlucky club in that
:04:42. > :04:47.respect, with regard to the UN as they have had in recent years.
:04:47. > :04:52.the owners are in administration, a kid and find a buyer, the club will
:04:52. > :04:57.join it. -- If you don't. They will be cheaper to buy in administration
:04:57. > :05:01.and they will take a hit on a point. Nine or 10 points, which will
:05:01. > :05:06.automatically put them into the bottom three, which is a huge up
:05:06. > :05:09.till -- uphill task that they have one already. The way things are
:05:09. > :05:13.going at the moment, this trophy is going at the moment, this trophy is
:05:13. > :05:18.a little bit out of reach, but not for Southampton. Let's have a look
:05:18. > :05:22.at the league table and you can see the Saints are top, just one win in
:05:22. > :05:29.their last four games. Portsmouth have won the two on the Spen but
:05:29. > :05:32.still set in 17th place, 26 points from 20 games -- on the spin. It is
:05:32. > :05:36.like the Premier League, it is having a goals scored and that is
:05:37. > :05:39.what Saddam that have got. Whatever lead you are in, that it doesn't
:05:39. > :05:42.lead you are in, that it doesn't matter. When you look at Portsmouth
:05:42. > :05:48.and Southampton, Portsmouth actually have a better defensive
:05:48. > :05:54.record. Portsmouth have conceded 22, Southampton 23, so that tells you
:05:54. > :06:00.how important goalscorers are. He is the main difference. 14 this
:06:00. > :06:03.season up to now, 21 last season, 30 this season before. If you have
:06:04. > :06:07.a goalscorer in your team, you have one hell of a chance of being
:06:07. > :06:14.successful. This man has scored goals throughout his career, Dave
:06:14. > :06:19.Kitson. You look at the squat, Luke Varney, Dave Kitson, Benjani,
:06:19. > :06:23.Premier League experience, why can't they score goals? He is top
:06:23. > :06:26.scorer with five goals. Southampton have three players that have got
:06:26. > :06:31.more than that themselves. That is the indication of how they have
:06:31. > :06:35.found goals easier to come by than Portsmouth. They can't get a
:06:35. > :06:39.partnership. I think we will have David Norris playing of Dave Kitson,
:06:39. > :06:44.they cannot get a pair of people they can go with and be securely in
:06:44. > :06:48.the knowledge that they will get goals. You to know what it is like
:06:48. > :06:52.to score in a Derby and the fact that it can make you as a player.
:06:52. > :06:58.Port would want to keep the good run going, Southampton 12 extend
:06:58. > :07:02.their lead at the top -- Portsmouth 1. Let's check it with the managers.
:07:02. > :07:06.Michael, a whirlwind few weeks and the baptism of fire into management,
:07:06. > :07:09.but the adversity seems to be bringing you together. We have had
:07:09. > :07:14.a few positive result recently and they don't get any bigger, the game
:07:14. > :07:17.that we have today. I was made well aware the minute I walked through
:07:17. > :07:22.the door and I am glad it is here and we can get on with it.
:07:22. > :07:27.difficult have the last few weeks been? You make it as difficult as
:07:27. > :07:30.you can, and I have tried to keep the focus on the football side of
:07:30. > :07:34.things and the players have been fully focused on what we can do on
:07:34. > :07:37.the field. We cannot affect what goes on off the field, are the
:07:37. > :07:43.result. Nigel, these targets have a
:07:43. > :07:46.passionate atmosphere. Do you do anything differently to have -- to
:07:46. > :07:50.your usual preparation? The players are well-versed with the atmosphere
:07:51. > :07:54.and it is a special day, one we are looking forward to. It is
:07:54. > :07:57.passionate but you have to use your head and make the right decisions
:07:57. > :08:02.in the situations that arise. You get out there and give yourself a
:08:02. > :08:06.chance to win it. A passionate and atmosphere, how important can home
:08:06. > :08:10.advantage be? I hope it is very important that
:08:10. > :08:14.I'm sure the fans will be very noisy and get behind the players.
:08:14. > :08:19.They are not known as the 12th man for no reason and I hope they will
:08:19. > :08:27.give us that extra we might need. Barcelona against Real Madrid is
:08:27. > :08:30.known as Al classic though, this is known as El classic coast. Looking
:08:30. > :08:36.at the ingredients you need for a really good derby match, at this
:08:36. > :08:40.has all of those. You need to reasonably sized clubs and that is
:08:40. > :08:44.what we have got here. Maybe two weeks ago, you would have put them
:08:44. > :08:48.apart but there has been a coming- together of form. Southampton had
:08:48. > :08:53.dropped a couple of points and Portsmouth have won their last two.
:08:53. > :08:59.It might be closer than we imagine. A story I love about these two
:08:59. > :09:03.teams, in 1939, Portsmouth 1 the FA Cup. It was so well received in
:09:03. > :09:08.Southampton that they paraded the try of the around at the Dell.
:09:08. > :09:12.Wouldn't happen these days. -- they paraded the trophy. The atmosphere
:09:12. > :09:16.is electric. The players cannot wait to get out there and get the
:09:16. > :09:20.ball rolling and get stuck into each other. It will be a tough game
:09:20. > :09:25.for both teams, but a very important one for different reasons.
:09:25. > :09:31.Let's hope it is a good one. As we know, Sat and they are top, but a
:09:31. > :09:38.good statistic for the Portsmouth fans -- Southampton are top, bought
:09:38. > :09:42.that had taken 12 points on the last 15. -- Portsmouth. Victory
:09:42. > :09:46.here offers much more than three points. The fans are in good voice.
:09:46. > :09:56.Let's hope that Martin Keown and Steve Wilson are as well. It is
:09:56. > :09:58.
:09:59. > :10:04.been in bigger crowds and stadiums this season but I don't think I
:10:04. > :10:08.have been in a noisier stadium for a long time. Absence has not made
:10:08. > :10:12.their hearts grow fonder. Portsmouth and Southampton may not
:10:12. > :10:17.play after an but they retain one of the bitterest rivalries in
:10:17. > :10:20.English football -- often. A month or go, you wouldn't have given the
:10:20. > :10:24.Pompey much of a chance, but they had a new manager and a new
:10:24. > :10:31.confidence. Back-to-back wins for the first time in nine months and a
:10:31. > :10:35.first away victory. Southampton have taken four points from their
:10:35. > :10:40.last three games, their worst run of the season. Borrow a lot of the
:10:40. > :10:43.fans, at league positions and all the rest of it is a complete
:10:43. > :10:47.irrelevance -- for a lot of the fans, and deep positions and the
:10:47. > :10:50.rest of it is a complete irrelevance. It is all about
:10:50. > :10:56.beating your rivals. Reports that have Liam Lawrence back from an
:10:56. > :11:02.ankle ligament injury -- Portsmouth have of. Luke Varney is out with a
:11:02. > :11:07.knee injury, David Norris has scored two in the last three games.
:11:07. > :11:16.Joe Mattock on loan from West Bromwich Albion, as is George
:11:16. > :11:21.Thorne, where Michael Appleton was first team coach. In the meantime,
:11:21. > :11:26.Southampton have Kelvin Davis back in goal, which is crucial for them.
:11:26. > :11:31.He replaces Bartosz Bialkowski, who had a bit of a shocker against
:11:31. > :11:40.Blackpool last weekend. So a big plus for Southampton to have him
:11:40. > :11:43.back in goal. Rickie Lambert up front has scored 16 times this
:11:43. > :11:50.season and as Alan Shearer was saying that, if you have a
:11:50. > :11:54.goalscorer, then you have a chance. Martin Keown, fantastic noise and a
:11:54. > :11:58.fantastic atmosphere. Let's hope for a decent game. It should be.
:11:58. > :12:03.The atmosphere is absolutely incredible, these teams can't wait
:12:03. > :12:06.to get at each other. The form book suggests that Southampton have the
:12:06. > :12:12.players and will play the football but it goes out the window in these
:12:12. > :12:17.games. Nigel Adkins, the Southampton manager, who has done
:12:17. > :12:20.such a brilliant job getting Southampton out of League 1 last
:12:21. > :12:24.season and has just made a fantastic start to the season. I
:12:24. > :12:29.just wonder, it is the first time in a long time that Southampton
:12:29. > :12:33.have had as little blip. We spoke to him before the game and he
:12:33. > :12:37.seemed a remarkably relaxed. It is about getting the best out of his
:12:37. > :12:42.players, he was talking about them keeping their heads and passing the
:12:42. > :12:46.ball. A heart can rule the head in May's local derbies and he is
:12:46. > :12:50.anxious that his players don't forget to play football. Mark
:12:50. > :13:00.Halsey is the referee, a familiar figure from the Premier League
:13:00. > :13:06.
:13:06. > :13:16.terrifically well. -- the various. It has all been happening off the
:13:16. > :13:16.
:13:17. > :13:22.field for him as well. But he has won two and drawn two of his four
:13:22. > :13:32.games. Portsmouth in the blue and Southampton in the red and white
:13:32. > :13:39.
:13:39. > :13:44.stripes, what else. Southampton will get the game off
:13:44. > :13:49.and running it, having seen their lead at the top of the Championship
:13:49. > :13:56.cut by West Ham yesterday. They are still top but they are top idly on
:13:56. > :14:06.goal difference. -- Only. B game, big-match atmosphere. Southampton
:14:06. > :14:06.
:14:06. > :14:54.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:14:54. > :15:01.off and running. An early touch the good pair, Dave Kitson. Lots of
:15:01. > :15:07.experience and he has scored a lot of goals throughout his career.
:15:07. > :15:11.A real success story. He had enjoyed at the start off the
:15:11. > :15:21.Premiership season and has been hot and cold since. He will play a big
:15:21. > :15:54.
:15:54. > :16:04.part in this game. Hooiveld will pronounced by his manager in the
:16:04. > :16:04.
:16:04. > :17:15.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:17:15. > :17:25.the number one spot from Jamie challenge and it is a Portsmouth
:17:25. > :17:37.
:17:37. > :17:47.froze. This young man is back on They have started very well in this
:17:47. > :17:59.
:17:59. > :18:04.there, trying to be clever. They just needed to get it in there,
:18:04. > :18:14.relief. If anybody can do that, Greg Halford can. He has a
:18:14. > :18:31.
:18:31. > :18:41.isn't it? And a strong challenge with kits and there. -- with Kitson
:18:41. > :18:46.
:18:46. > :18:56.brilliant. They dropped points for the first time this season against
:18:56. > :19:04.
:19:04. > :19:14.Blackpool. Their if a waveform has not been good. -- their away form.
:19:14. > :19:25.
:19:25. > :19:29.It has not been bad by any means is an excellent player. Yes. A
:19:29. > :19:39.great box of tricks and a very intelligent young man. The
:19:39. > :19:49.
:19:49. > :19:52.outstanding player of this season comfortably taken by Stephen
:19:52. > :19:59.Henderson! A good take for the keeper and that will be a nice set
:19:59. > :20:09.love for him. That is nice early on, to see your goalkeeper coming in.
:20:09. > :20:09.
:20:09. > :21:16.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:21:16. > :21:26.very well, Steve. It is a feature of their playing. You just put it
:21:26. > :21:48.
:21:48. > :21:56.into his and another corner. -- from your centre-forward, don't
:21:56. > :22:06.you? This is the first time they have met since the spring of 2005,
:22:06. > :22:31.
:22:31. > :22:37.Premier League are still around at Fratton Park. Not too many of them
:22:37. > :22:47.in the Portsmouth starting line-up at the moment but several on the
:22:47. > :23:06.
:23:06. > :23:16.but safely done. I think what they are looking for is a whip past. You
:23:16. > :23:39.
:23:39. > :23:46.want to be whipping that in for Tottenham defender there. If it was
:23:46. > :23:53.intended for Norris, he did not give him a chance. I just think
:23:53. > :24:03.Mattock needs to settle down a bit. Twice he has done that now. But he
:24:03. > :24:03.
:24:03. > :25:08.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:25:08. > :25:13.certainly knows what this derby astray at the moment. Portsmouth
:25:13. > :25:23.just don't have the quality of pass at the moment. They need to settle
:25:23. > :25:36.
:25:36. > :25:46.man, didn't it? I thought it did and so did Joel Ward. -- that
:25:46. > :26:15.
:26:15. > :26:25.flicked off. Norris has been him and it is a decent pass! --
:26:25. > :26:34.
:26:34. > :26:43.Joel Ward. And a good counter. great defending at the end. I think
:26:43. > :26:53.it was Hooiveld who got a cross there. And now we will see this
:26:53. > :27:09.
:27:09. > :27:16.long throw-in. Just like Stoke. A young teenager and an interesting
:27:16. > :27:19.player, George Thorne. Part of England's under 17 side which won
:27:19. > :27:29.the European Championships and beat Spain in the final. If you do that,
:27:29. > :27:31.
:27:31. > :27:41.that is a feather in your cap. certainly is. And what he shot. --
:27:41. > :27:45.
:27:45. > :27:54.position. You can see what a threat Lambert is in the air. That is just
:27:54. > :27:59.what he needs, Lambert, whipping the ball Inn. A big, powerful boy.
:27:59. > :28:05.He has that presence around him in the penalty area. A lot is made of
:28:05. > :28:15.the fact that short of a yard or two, the way he links in with
:28:15. > :28:15.
:28:15. > :29:05.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:29:05. > :29:11.people, and he is a great blocked. Never going anywhere near.
:29:11. > :29:20.A terrible shot at the end of it. Still Norris but just couldn't
:29:20. > :29:24.squeeze around his man, Dan Fox. They have played 15 minutes and
:29:24. > :29:30.Portsmouth have had their fair share. This is where they need to
:29:30. > :29:40.improve in that final third. It is picked up quite simply there from
:29:40. > :30:01.
:30:01. > :30:11.going to take it again. -- Cork again, Fox is going to take it
:30:11. > :30:11.
:30:11. > :31:31.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:31:31. > :31:35.heard of. You can't hear the whistle, but I think our midst all
:31:35. > :31:41.the hullabaloo, the referee has given a free kick by that. If he
:31:41. > :31:46.didn't, he should have done. He has gone in with his foot, he connected
:31:46. > :31:51.with the ball. The modern-day player seems to go with all of his
:31:51. > :32:01.studs raised. He gets away with it. Greg Halford has got away with it
:32:01. > :32:24.
:32:24. > :32:34.to, without being injured, which he midfield. Lallana likes to come off
:32:34. > :32:35.
:32:35. > :32:39.the line. -- in that midfield. George Thorne, number 20 for
:32:39. > :32:43.Portsmouth, on loan from West Bromwich Albion. Michael Appleton
:32:43. > :32:48.would love to keep him here but he doesn't think he has got any chance
:32:48. > :32:58.of that, because he is very highly rated at West Brom. And Michael
:32:58. > :33:23.
:33:23. > :33:27.Appleton would know, having been ball, or looking to play a patient
:33:27. > :33:31.game, they don't look like a side who are under pressure at the wrong
:33:31. > :33:36.end of the table. Michael Appleton obviously has seen enough and
:33:36. > :33:40.thinks they can play football. They have those busy two in midfield and
:33:40. > :33:45.with Hayden Mullins, with good experience and a George Thorne who
:33:45. > :33:51.looks very impressive, physically very strong. He looks like he has
:33:51. > :33:57.got leadership qualities, the way he is ordering people around.
:33:57. > :34:02.Ward is offside. Your experiences down here as a
:34:02. > :34:09.player, I think he came with Brighton, didn't she? I did, I came
:34:09. > :34:14.as a young man at of 18. I couldn't believe the atmosphere. It was good
:34:14. > :34:18.experience, because only a few months later, I was playing in the
:34:18. > :34:28.Arsenal and Tottenham derby game and this one is right up there for
:34:28. > :34:35.
:34:35. > :34:45.body to Shand rocky are fit. just prised him out of play. -- a
:34:45. > :35:21.
:35:21. > :35:27.didn't get a lot on a header. coming from a standing jump,
:35:27. > :35:37.couldn't get the power, but it is an excellent leap. Just coming off
:35:37. > :35:37.
:35:37. > :36:51.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:36:51. > :37:01.things a bed. Setting out their stall. A Schneiderlin is coming off
:37:01. > :37:31.
:37:31. > :37:41.able to get out at this point. is the best spell of pressure for
:37:41. > :37:41.
:37:42. > :37:46.Southampton in their game. -- the game. In Hammond is sitting at the
:37:46. > :37:50.back end of the diamond in front of the back four -- been Hammond.
:37:50. > :37:54.Schneiderlin is coming in from the right-hand side. They keep
:37:54. > :38:04.tampering with their system, making it difficult for Portsmouth to work
:38:04. > :38:18.
:38:18. > :38:23.out what they are doing. It all you had the chance to come and
:38:23. > :38:29.coach here. I did, under Tony Adams. I had a better for side, because
:38:29. > :38:39.Tony wasn't in the job very long. - - a bit of inside. It was a lucky
:38:39. > :38:39.
:38:39. > :39:23.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:39:23. > :39:28.turn the screw. This probing pretty comfortable save for
:39:28. > :39:32.Henderson. We were right behind that where we are sitting and it
:39:32. > :39:42.looked like an impossible task to score from there. The keeper coped
:39:42. > :40:17.
:40:17. > :40:22.with it easily. We had a good view and so, eventually, did Mark Halsey.
:40:22. > :40:26.You wonder how much the crowd influenced that decision. Dave
:40:26. > :40:36.Kitson has worked hard, but I don't think there is an awful lot wrong
:40:36. > :40:48.
:40:48. > :40:58.with that, personally. I would say Claridge are watching that and
:40:58. > :41:25.
:41:25. > :41:29.out of their last three games under Michael Appleton. They had taken
:41:30. > :41:39.eight games this season to get to the seven. Mark, so it has been an
:41:40. > :41:40.
:41:40. > :43:01.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:43:01. > :43:05.Norris with the shop, which he didn't hit as truly as he might
:43:05. > :43:10.have liked. Joe Mattock are getting them that left-hand side very
:43:10. > :43:16.impressively. Lovely little ball in with the outside of his left foot.
:43:16. > :43:26.Not enough power in the shot to trouble the keeper. It was some
:43:26. > :43:26.
:43:26. > :44:10.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:44:10. > :44:15.and the process. Jack Cork is going to get a yellow card, I think.
:44:15. > :44:19.must have said something, because I am not sure that is a booking. Dave
:44:19. > :44:26.Kitson doing what he is good at, holding the ball up and inviting
:44:26. > :44:34.the fell. Mark Halsey deciding to book him. Good play by Kitson. The
:44:34. > :44:40.free kick has been taken, but too quickly for the referee. Nice feet.
:44:40. > :44:50.Pulled him back, but we are on the halfway line there. It is a cheap
:44:50. > :44:50.
:44:50. > :45:53.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:45:53. > :45:59.course, early in his career, Those two just got in each other's
:46:00. > :46:09.way, didn't they? But beautiful by Lallana. Just skipping past. Great
:46:10. > :46:22.
:46:22. > :46:32.to see that, unless you are a over the years, Southampton. In
:46:32. > :46:37.
:46:37. > :46:47.recent times, the likes of Theo Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain.
:46:47. > :47:06.
:47:06. > :47:16.There is a big future for this boy, Ward is a nonplussed. This might
:47:16. > :47:41.
:47:41. > :47:50.tell us more. It looks like a for Wimbledon before they became MK
:47:50. > :47:58.Dons. They will be pleased to see him back today with the tension
:47:58. > :48:08.that surrounds these derby matches. He has such experience. This is his
:48:08. > :48:47.
:48:47. > :48:52.250th game for Southampton. He Southampton. It will be interesting
:48:52. > :48:57.to see what the referee does with this one. He is not interested him
:48:57. > :49:03.booking him. But Cork is not happy with that, having got in the book
:49:03. > :49:13.himself. Yes. You have to compare that with the challenge that Cork
:49:13. > :49:23.
:49:23. > :49:33.got a yellow card for a few minutes as he took the free kick. But he is
:49:33. > :49:58.
:49:58. > :50:08.back up quickly. -- a bit of a his shoulders to show him where he
:50:08. > :50:35.
:50:35. > :50:39.Cork. The way he gets around the pitch, lots of energy. Good feed.
:50:39. > :50:49.He is making his way back into the game after coming through Chelsea's
:50:49. > :51:13.
:51:13. > :51:23.books. Doing an excellent job on the ball into an area. He gets his
:51:23. > :51:40.
:51:40. > :51:44.head up and looks, and realises ground since 1976. -- haven't won.
:51:44. > :51:47.Being top of the championship at Christmas is a good place to be.
:51:47. > :51:52.Five out of the last six years and it means you will be in the Premier
:51:52. > :51:56.League for next season. But it is very congested at the top of the
:51:56. > :52:01.championship. West Ham will be watching this keenly and
:52:01. > :52:05.Middlesbrough just behind them. Hull, Leeds. Leicester out of it
:52:05. > :52:11.and Reading and bat or. A lot of clubs up their opera will still
:52:11. > :52:19.feel they have a real chance going into the second half of the season.
:52:19. > :52:29.-- clubs up there who feel. Yes. You want to keep winning and
:52:29. > :52:29.
:52:29. > :53:16.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:53:16. > :53:26.when it came in from Thorne. Portsmouth fans are making a
:53:26. > :54:05.
:54:06. > :54:15.each, the possession Stats. -- four down the right hand side, but
:54:16. > :54:16.
:54:16. > :54:26.shooting is not his strong point. A bit wild there. He has been around
:54:26. > :54:46.
:54:46. > :54:51.the Premier League in his time, corner. Could play again. Lambert,
:54:51. > :54:56.the way he uses his body, superb. Anything that comes into him, he is
:54:56. > :55:03.leaning on his opponent. And he is clever because he waits until it
:55:03. > :55:13.goes into the box. He has not had a sight of goal yet, except for that
:55:13. > :55:39.
:55:39. > :55:49.free kick, which was comfortably in next winner, which really causes
:55:49. > :56:15.
:56:15. > :56:20.on form and the man they wanted on the end of it. -- he is the man.
:56:20. > :56:26.think the chance has gone as they failed to deal with it and it falls
:56:26. > :56:36.into the path of Norris. It always looks like it is going past that
:56:36. > :56:36.
:56:36. > :57:25.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:57:25. > :57:35.keeper, is from a bit of a dynasty of footballers. His grandfather,
:57:35. > :57:53.
:57:53. > :58:03.challenge. They looked for him and it goes over. Thanks very much! A
:58:03. > :58:22.
:58:22. > :58:32.free kick. In the last minute of Plenty in there hoping to get
:58:32. > :58:49.
:58:49. > :58:58.each other in the first half, haven't they? A good battle.
:58:58. > :59:08.Southampton get plenty of bodies in the wake of this. Good defending.
:59:08. > :59:37.
:59:37. > :59:43.the other half. He has caught him there. It goes into Kitson and they
:59:43. > :59:53.get bodies in there earlier. It is difficult to play. Kitson is
:59:53. > :00:03.
:00:03. > :00:09.half. And not a bad effort at all. We said he didn't have his shooting
:00:09. > :00:14.boots on today and that was certainly a lot better. I think
:00:14. > :00:20.Kelvin Davis thought he might have been 10. That is the last kick of
:00:20. > :00:25.the first half. Both goalkeepers remain unbeaten. Recovered with the
:00:25. > :00:29.free kick, just wide. David Norris per one just wide of the post as
:00:29. > :00:39.well. Lambert had a free kick at the other end and it has been very
:00:39. > :00:48.
:00:48. > :00:54.All they have really been doing his baiting each other, because there
:00:54. > :00:59.has been so little on the pitch. But very little for us to get
:00:59. > :01:04.excited about at all. Martin said it has Ben Berry even, but it has
:01:04. > :01:08.been evenly poor. -- it has been very even. Southampton have a
:01:08. > :01:12.reputation of knocking it around and passing and creating chances.
:01:12. > :01:16.They may have passed it around better than a Portsmouth in the
:01:16. > :01:20.first 10 or 15 minutes, but Portsmouth will be a happier,
:01:20. > :01:24.because it is a scruffy game. I understand that in these games,
:01:24. > :01:30.sometimes you have to win a bleak and it might come from a set piece
:01:30. > :01:34.or a mistake, but for the first 45 minutes, very little quality.
:01:34. > :01:39.has been a weird display from Portsmouth, they have won the two
:01:39. > :01:43.on the spin and they are playing like the away team. They have set
:01:43. > :01:48.up to stop Southampton playing and the way the game has panned out,
:01:48. > :01:53.they have done well. They have stopped the passing game. There
:01:53. > :01:56.have been fits and starts where they have got men up in support of
:01:56. > :02:01.Kitson, but all too frequently, people have looked for a pass
:02:01. > :02:05.forward and it hasn't been on. The game has suffered. Nigel Adkins
:02:05. > :02:10.gets his game -- team in the dressing room, what does he say?
:02:10. > :02:16.They have the quality to beat Portsmouth and extend their lead at
:02:16. > :02:21.the top. He will be looking at their big players, Lallana and
:02:21. > :02:25.Lambert. Lallana has all -- had one or two little bit, but they have
:02:25. > :02:30.had the opportunity to have a shot or get it into the box that they
:02:30. > :02:35.haven't quite done that. He will be looking it -- for a bit more.
:02:35. > :02:39.Southampton are flattered by their league position, only one win and
:02:39. > :02:42.the last month. A I have seen them four or five times and they are not
:02:42. > :02:46.there on luck, they deserve to be where they are. They are not
:02:46. > :02:50.playing as well as they can and Nigel Adkins will be telling them
:02:50. > :02:55.it is up to us to win this game. Portsmouth are probably happy to
:02:55. > :02:59.get a point out that this. In games like this, let's be fair, it
:02:59. > :03:04.doesn't really matter how you play, it is about getting a result. If
:03:05. > :03:09.they were to scrape a 1-0 victory, they would be delighted, whether it
:03:09. > :03:12.is ugly or it is nice. This club has its fair share of problems but
:03:12. > :03:16.the sun is shining and they are drawing against their biggest
:03:16. > :03:20.rivals. There are reasons to think that if they snatch a goal in the
:03:20. > :03:27.second half, it could turn into a very nice Sunday indeed. They are
:03:27. > :03:29.set up to be tough to play against and difficult to beat. We will all
:03:29. > :03:33.accept every now and again you would have your best performance
:03:33. > :03:38.and you won't see the best game of football in a derby match, but they
:03:38. > :03:42.expect people to give 100%. They will forgive everything else.
:03:42. > :03:46.Neither side played particularly well, but I don't think it is due
:03:46. > :03:51.to a lack of effort. We will look ahead to the second half, not too
:03:51. > :03:55.much to get excited about so far. Here is all the important action
:03:55. > :04:00.from the Championship yesterday, starting with Southampton's biggest
:04:00. > :04:03.rivals at the top, West Ham -- West Ham.
:04:03. > :04:11.West Ham knew they would join Southampton on 43 points if they
:04:11. > :04:16.could beat Barnsley. The only goal came early from a Papa Boupa Diop.
:04:16. > :04:21.His first goal for six years precisely. The Hammers had claims
:04:21. > :04:25.for our life -- late penalty turned down. Big Sam taking to the bottle
:04:25. > :04:31.in frustration, kicking out that some water containers and getting
:04:31. > :04:41.sent to the stands. Cardiff to, Middlesbrough. -- took
:04:41. > :04:43.
:04:43. > :04:49.on. Middlesbrough have opened the scoring! It is his first start.
:04:49. > :04:53.Flick on and turn them. Cardiff City had an equaliser. -- turned
:04:53. > :04:57.end. The Ben Turner will love that, his deflection gave Middlesbrough
:04:57. > :05:05.the opening goal. Here come Cardiff City. Leading the
:05:05. > :05:14.charge is Miller, he might go alone. Neat back-heel. Cardiff City are in
:05:14. > :05:24.front! Justin Hoyte has got around the
:05:24. > :05:25.
:05:25. > :05:28.back. An equaliser for Middlesbrough.
:05:28. > :05:34.And a brilliant goal for Middlesbrough! Middlesbrough have
:05:34. > :05:38.their noses in front once more. Hull City moved above Cardiff into
:05:38. > :05:43.four, their highest league position this season, after a 4th successive
:05:43. > :05:47.league win. Jack Smith's own goal came after some comical defending
:05:47. > :05:54.from Millwall. In search a wry joke about an early Christmas gifts.
:05:55. > :05:59.Robert Koren is a man in form. Does caretaker Nick Barmby what the job
:05:59. > :06:03.on a permanent basis? I have said all along we will speak in any year
:06:04. > :06:07.and nothing has changed. You will continue teasing us? I have been
:06:07. > :06:12.straight up and honest that we will speak in the new year if.
:06:12. > :06:16.Reading beat West Ham and travelled -- at last we can travel to
:06:16. > :06:24.Yorkshire having never won there in the league. They have now, Simon
:06:24. > :06:30.Church with the early goal. Brighton had of two players sent
:06:30. > :06:35.off inside the opening 12 minutes against Burnley. -- two players.
:06:35. > :06:39.The first four and off the ball and of the Kamara incident. Ashley
:06:39. > :06:43.burns -- Ashley Barnes then sent off after a reaction to that
:06:43. > :06:48.challenge. Gus Poyet refused to make any comment after the match,
:06:48. > :06:51.knowing he would be hit with a fine if he said what he thought.
:06:51. > :06:56.Burnley could only score one said the 79 minutes they faced nine men,
:06:56. > :07:00.but it was quite a goal -- in the 79 minutes.
:07:00. > :07:09.There were no goals between Blackpool and Watford. Matt
:07:09. > :07:12.Phillips hit the post for the seaside us. -- seaside HRS. Five of
:07:12. > :07:17.the last seven meetings between the sides at Bloomfield Road had ended
:07:17. > :07:22.in draws. Ipswich's terrific turnaround at
:07:22. > :07:26.Barnsley last weekend halted a run of seven successive defeats. The
:07:26. > :07:29.only goal here was controversial. Keith Andrews's effort crossed the
:07:29. > :07:34.line according to the officials, but they didn't immediately
:07:34. > :07:40.indicate it was a goal, annoying the they Derby manager at Nigel
:07:40. > :07:45.Clough. We are a bit frustrated because it wasn't given straight
:07:45. > :07:48.away. I thought the lines that would have put his flag up
:07:48. > :07:52.accordingly, but four or five seconds on and then to go back and
:07:52. > :07:58.give it was a bit frustrating. David James made his debut for
:07:58. > :08:02.Watford way back in August 1990. At the age of 41, the keeper is as
:08:02. > :08:07.good as ever. Steve Cotterill said his team would have won had it not
:08:07. > :08:11.been for James. But teams in the relegation zone.
:08:11. > :08:18.David Nugent put Leicester in front at Doncaster with his 7th goal of
:08:18. > :08:23.the season. But Billy Sharp, aided by the Leicester keeper, levelled
:08:23. > :08:26.for Rovers. Billy Sharp is said to be on the less the list of January
:08:26. > :08:33.transfer targets. He turned this match around with two goals in
:08:33. > :08:37.three minutes, taking his total to the campaign up to known. -- 9.
:08:37. > :08:40.They are closing the gap on the teams above them.
:08:41. > :08:44.Bottom-of-the-table Coventry are now eight points from safety after
:08:44. > :08:48.a 4th successive defeat. Emil Sinclair scoring for Peter Braude
:08:48. > :08:52.after they halted a run of five games without a win. At
:08:52. > :08:56.games without a win. At Peterborough.
:08:56. > :08:59.Yes, you fear the worst for Yes, you fear the worst for
:08:59. > :09:04.Coventry. We will take a look at some League 1 action in just a
:09:04. > :09:08.minute. And don't say that BBC Sport burned off the Christmas
:09:08. > :09:10.present all week-long -- don't present all week-long -- don't
:09:10. > :09:14.offer you. Let's have a quick chat about the Championship. I am
:09:14. > :09:18.looking at the table now. The top eight sides are separated by 11
:09:19. > :09:23.points, all of them with recent Premier League experience. Such a
:09:23. > :09:29.difficult division to get out of and it is really tight at the top.
:09:29. > :09:33.There aren't any Newcastle's all West Proms this year. Before this
:09:33. > :09:43.season, we could have said they would get out of it -- Newcastles
:09:43. > :09:44.
:09:44. > :09:48.all West Broms. It is no surprise that this division some people
:09:49. > :09:52.outperform their cells and some underperform, but it is no surprise
:09:52. > :09:57.that the top two have come back to the pack -- they're Celts. Would
:09:57. > :10:02.you expect West Ham to be running away with the division with the
:10:02. > :10:06.resources they have? And not running away we did, but I would
:10:06. > :10:11.expect them to be doing well. Allardyce knows what his players
:10:11. > :10:14.can do and he has a certain way of playing that has been successful.
:10:14. > :10:18.Looking at the teams at the bottom tells you as much about the
:10:18. > :10:22.strength of this decision -- division, Birmingham, Derby,
:10:22. > :10:27.Ipswich, Forest. They would all have ambitions of a play-off spot
:10:27. > :10:31.but not automatic promotion. At the top -- start of the season, you
:10:31. > :10:36.would expect 15 or 16 they have a play-off shared, so one or two
:10:36. > :10:41.underperform and one or two will be very pleased. It is so relentless,
:10:41. > :10:46.game after game. We could talk for 20 minutes about how well Norwich
:10:46. > :10:50.started -- Norwich City did to get back-to-back promotions, but it's
:10:50. > :10:55.Southampton do go up in two successive seasons, it will be
:10:55. > :10:59.testament to a very good job. has done a very good job, at Nigel
:10:59. > :11:03.Adkins and I don't see why that would change. You look at the front
:11:03. > :11:07.two in Lallana and Lambert and they are probably better than anything
:11:07. > :11:10.around in this league. I think they will go up. They probably enjoy
:11:10. > :11:15.this league more than the other one, because the pressure they were
:11:15. > :11:19.under to get out of League 1, the expectations are lower here and
:11:19. > :11:23.players can sometimes prosper in those conditions. West Ham are
:11:23. > :11:28.under a lot of pressure this year, so that is why it is tough for them.
:11:28. > :11:29.Let's drop down a division, I said Let's drop down a division, I said
:11:29. > :11:35.we would look that some action, and a young man called Jordan Rhodes
:11:35. > :11:40.scored his 14th goal of the season. And also his 15th, 16th and 17th.
:11:40. > :11:45.That is some Saturday. He was no good for Roy Keane at Ipswich, but
:11:45. > :11:49.Lee Clark has taken a gamble on him and he has proved to be one hell of
:11:49. > :11:57.a gamble. He got goals last year, obviously not as many as this year,
:11:57. > :12:01.but what about this finish? At this fantastic. Steve loves this one.
:12:01. > :12:06.This is pace, strength, and the ability to take it with the outside
:12:06. > :12:12.of his foot and Kerr left. In the last minute of the game as well. 17
:12:12. > :12:15.years old. We said at the top of the show that if you have a
:12:15. > :12:19.goalscorer, you have got a great chance and Huddersfield will be
:12:19. > :12:23.there or thereabouts. His dad as a goalkeeping coach and I am sure he
:12:23. > :12:27.was very proud of his son, but perhaps not yesterday because he is
:12:27. > :12:31.goalkeeper coach of Sheffield Wednesday. The second half as and
:12:31. > :12:41.far away and neither is Christmas. How do we know? Too many mince pies,
:12:41. > :12:49.
:12:49. > :12:53.last-minute present buying? No, it achieved has been recognised.
:12:53. > :12:56.feel very humble that people want to vote for me. Just to be
:12:56. > :12:59.nominated alongside nine other great sports people is a great
:13:00. > :13:04.achievement. It has been a truly wonderful year and this would
:13:04. > :13:09.capita off. Just to be nominated was a great feeling. It is the
:13:09. > :13:12.highest accolade you can have bestowed on year. Just to be a
:13:12. > :13:17.nominee is massive, but to be winning it, I would be lost for
:13:17. > :13:21.words. It would be one of the highlight of my career. There is a
:13:21. > :13:31.great list of winners and one I would love to join. We don't play
:13:31. > :13:34.
:13:34. > :13:39.sport for accolades, but it would deciding on the winner is probably
:13:39. > :13:44.any easier job than presenting the programme. Gary Lineker also has a
:13:44. > :13:51.late finish the night before with a full Premiership that Premier
:13:51. > :13:54.League fixture list on Wednesday this week. Five of the top six
:13:54. > :14:04.Premier League teams in action today, making it the perfect
:14:04. > :14:32.
:14:32. > :14:37.evening to stay in the warm and and it was a big lunch time for
:14:37. > :14:41.Queens Park Rangers, back in the big time with a 2-0 defeat to
:14:41. > :14:45.Manchester United. Not long too Aston Villa kick off against
:14:46. > :14:52.Liverpool and then we have Spurs at home against Sunderland. And
:14:52. > :14:57.Manchester City, the leaders in the Premier League, hoping to emulate
:14:57. > :15:00.their United rivals. Let's talk about the second half here, though.
:15:00. > :15:03.If you are Portsmouth and at home and you have got the points and
:15:03. > :15:08.stresses and pressures off the pitch, what were you looking for
:15:08. > :15:14.from your players in the second half? I'm not sure you want to
:15:14. > :15:20.change it too much. I think caution is probably the best option in this
:15:20. > :15:25.respect. He could take Norris into midfield and put another on but
:15:25. > :15:28.then you will make it a straight sort of game. On the face of it,
:15:28. > :15:33.South Antrim probably have the better players. With or not he
:15:33. > :15:38.wants to open up the games, I don't know. -- Southampton probably have
:15:38. > :15:44.the better players. I think he will be content with the way it was,
:15:44. > :15:49.quite ugly. If you take Southampton on and create passes and chances,
:15:49. > :15:55.they might just be due. They need to get their players on the ball
:15:55. > :16:02.and stop passing it around and start creating chances. -- start
:16:02. > :16:12.passing it around. His could be a rather loud duster
:16:12. > :16:12.
:16:12. > :16:16.might right hand side because these are a -- away fans. We know they
:16:16. > :16:22.are better than that and can create more chances. Kicking towards their
:16:22. > :16:26.own fans, they might just do that in the second half. And a special
:16:27. > :16:34.convoy bringing them in, not allowed to mix with the home fans
:16:34. > :16:40.for obvious reasons. You heard the boos there!
:16:40. > :16:46.COMMENTATOR: They are out for the second half. Not thinking of the
:16:46. > :16:50.manager has made any changes. I would imagine that Nigel Adkins and
:16:50. > :16:57.Michael Appleton would like to see a bit more activity in front of the
:16:57. > :17:02.opposition goalkeepers. Certainly, Rickie Lambert has been around the
:17:02. > :17:07.Portsmouth goal in the first half. And Dave Kitson of Southampton.
:17:07. > :17:13.Though David Norris did have that shot just to the right hand side of
:17:13. > :17:19.the right post. On the whole, or was nothing to choose between the
:17:19. > :17:24.two side, Martin? No lack of passion, even if a lack of quality.
:17:24. > :17:29.No. I expect to see a difference in the second half. Southampton now,
:17:29. > :17:34.as they have said, the rest of the teams are catching them up and they
:17:34. > :17:44.need to win. It will be very competitive at the top and
:17:44. > :18:22.
:18:22. > :18:32.Southampton are going straight at and are the indicator of just how
:18:32. > :18:58.
:18:58. > :19:03.strong that wind is from left to physiotherapist at Scunthorpe, of
:19:03. > :19:13.course. But as he said to me once, Bob Paisley used to be a
:19:13. > :19:33.
:19:33. > :19:38.physiotherapist as well and it game goes on, maybe in the last 10,
:19:38. > :19:48.15 minutes, if distilled zero have been Sera, that both teams might
:19:48. > :19:54.
:19:54. > :19:58.not think it is a bad outcome. -- if it is still 0-0 at the end.
:19:58. > :20:04.The players are not kicking well enough and nobody is confident
:20:04. > :20:14.enough. The game is in that period where it could do with a goal, you
:20:14. > :20:15.
:20:15. > :21:11.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:21:11. > :21:17.he, Hooiveld? Yes. Hooiveld tends The Southampton fans have just let
:21:17. > :21:27.off a flair there. I could smell it. I think it has been dealt with by
:21:27. > :22:03.
:22:03. > :22:13.Pearce, not taking any risks there. And this man, the Frenchman, not a
:22:13. > :22:25.
:22:25. > :22:35.very French name that he has but he tight as he can be because he knows
:22:35. > :22:35.
:22:35. > :23:30.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:23:30. > :23:40.No, it has gone quite Scratby. Every time the players get near the
:23:40. > :23:57.
:23:57. > :24:07.ball, the fans make quite a noise. have done better. Great play from
:24:07. > :24:13.
:24:13. > :24:17.realised and the keeper then collect it. It would have only
:24:17. > :24:23.taken a touch to put it past the keeper. But they Interchange so
:24:23. > :24:33.well. Schneiderlin, the way he goes in and plays the front. They are
:24:33. > :24:33.
:24:33. > :25:23.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:25:23. > :25:33.France, at U21 and Under 23 level. game into life. -- to get this game.
:25:33. > :25:55.
:25:55. > :26:05.And now something involving Fonte behind there. If it is, it is well
:26:05. > :26:09.
:26:09. > :26:19.seen by the linesman, isn't it? went behind, which is a waste.
:26:19. > :26:27.
:26:27. > :26:34.from these set-pieces, and it needs to be better. And a tough job for
:26:34. > :26:39.Kitson up there. Not had a huge amount of support. He needs better
:26:39. > :26:49.balls are coming in to him at if Quay is to hold it up for his team-
:26:49. > :27:12.
:27:12. > :27:22.Kitson tried to find Norris and did not put enough on it. The game is
:27:22. > :27:49.
:27:49. > :27:54.the game might open up and we would get more room. You get a Portsmouth
:27:54. > :27:58.player playing on. Portsmouth need to be braver but if they've may
:27:58. > :28:08.Kate the midfield when Southampton are so strong, that is their
:28:08. > :28:37.
:28:37. > :28:47.concern. -- when they'd they'd hate get the ball are back. They need to
:28:47. > :28:47.
:28:47. > :30:22.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:30:23. > :30:32.They look a bit panicky in that final third. I think maybe the
:30:33. > :30:33.
:30:33. > :31:20.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:31:20. > :31:30.atmosphere is getting a little bit His first touch let him down. He
:31:30. > :31:41.
:31:41. > :31:47.definitely. It Joe Mattock it is going to get Olap -- Joe Mattock is
:31:47. > :31:57.going to get a yellow card. His left foot just chased him and in
:31:57. > :32:05.
:32:05. > :32:15.beginning to look a little more likely. You need good quality into
:32:15. > :32:25.
:32:25. > :32:29.the box. Let's see if Fox can post. Up I think he was caught in
:32:30. > :32:36.two minds, it was an excellent ball in Andy Bates everybody to the far
:32:36. > :32:41.post. He tries to cushion it -- it evades everybody. He may have been
:32:41. > :32:46.better heading it. It is a difficult skill when it is coming
:32:47. > :32:56.such a long way. Fantastically difficult to volley that into the
:32:57. > :33:06.
:33:06. > :33:16.at Reading and then it didn't really work out for him at all at
:33:16. > :33:54.
:33:54. > :34:01.Stoke. He didn't seem to get on season plying along effortlessly,
:34:01. > :34:09.Southampton. This might be a little blip where they have to begin.
:34:09. > :34:19.is not all about football in this division. It is about grinding out
:34:19. > :34:21.
:34:21. > :34:26.not always going to come easily in this division. Sometimes you have
:34:26. > :34:31.to scrap and take what you can get. They are almost getting in each
:34:31. > :34:41.other's way in the middle, there is no wake up to their play today.
:34:41. > :34:46.
:34:46. > :34:50.Southampton free kick. Taken too the play go. He is punishing
:34:50. > :35:00.Southampton twice. They are trying to play it early and this allows
:35:00. > :35:03.
:35:03. > :35:09.Portsmouth to get all of their pace-setters are the Championship.
:35:10. > :35:13.A decent ball in and did it in! Rickie Lambert with the goal! His
:35:13. > :35:18.first sight of goal and Rickie Lambert takes it and that is what
:35:18. > :35:24.he is all about. Southampton celebrate, they are 1-0 up. Finally
:35:24. > :35:30.we get the quality ball into the box from Fox and Lambert, look at
:35:30. > :35:38.this base he has got in the penalty box. -- space. You can't leave him
:35:38. > :35:46.alone with that kind of room. He is so strong in the air. It is a great
:35:46. > :35:52.finish. It is Jason Pearce he has got over the top of, he uses his
:35:52. > :35:55.body so effectively. The goalkeeper chose to stay on his line, Lambert
:35:55. > :36:01.beat Jason Pearce to it. It only needed a flick and Southampton are
:36:01. > :36:06.in front. Portsmouth are going to have to change something now.
:36:06. > :36:16.Perhaps they might push another body further forward. He certainly
:36:16. > :36:28.
:36:28. > :36:33.better for the first scorer. Just wondering, when that ball comes
:36:33. > :36:38.into the area, is that the goalkeeper's territory? Definitely.
:36:38. > :36:42.He has elected to let the defenders deal with it. If he comes, he deals
:36:42. > :36:50.with the whole situation. Liam Lawrence, out for five matches with
:36:50. > :36:59.an ankle ligament injury, to be replaced. They have responded very
:37:00. > :37:03.quickly to make a change. Michael Appleton is not hanging about.
:37:03. > :37:11.Huseklepp is an interesting player. I remember him coming on and
:37:11. > :37:21.scoring for Norway in Oslo against Scotland a couple of years ago.
:37:21. > :37:47.
:37:47. > :37:57.Very highly rated at that time, had played in Serie A last season with
:37:57. > :38:23.
:38:23. > :38:29.Southampton have been a man down, I think it is Schneiderlin... I think
:38:29. > :38:35.he will be OK. Just trying to slow it down a little bit, I think,
:38:35. > :38:39.Southampton. A bit of professionalism creeping in.
:38:39. > :38:45.just got one in the face from Joel Ward, I don't think for one minute
:38:45. > :38:55.it was delivered from the Portsmouth man. -- deliberate. This
:38:55. > :39:32.
:39:32. > :39:36.could be a really big win for can't argue with that. It is a
:39:36. > :39:40.teasing ball into the box, the goalkeeper has elected to stay and
:39:40. > :39:44.you cannot get lumbered that kind of room. When he get that close to
:39:44. > :39:52.the goal, he is pretty deadly. -- you cannot give Lambert that kind
:39:52. > :39:56.of room. One chance, won goal. think he is a player who is just
:39:56. > :40:00.realising how good he is. He is scoring goals for fun in this
:40:00. > :40:05.league and he is more confident. If they make it into the Premiership,
:40:06. > :40:13.that is where he will be performing next season. Early in his career at
:40:13. > :40:18.Macclesfield and Stockport, he was and prolific at all. It was only
:40:18. > :40:22.really when he went to Bristol Rovers that he started putting the
:40:22. > :40:30.ball in the back of the net been a regular basis. Sometimes it takes
:40:30. > :40:33.longer. He has certainly done it in the red-and-white of Southampton. I
:40:33. > :40:43.think that Stockport, he was scoring one in eight, something
:40:43. > :40:43.
:40:43. > :42:08.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:42:08. > :42:18.killing the game, really. Need a Appleton think of a way back into
:42:18. > :42:18.
:42:18. > :43:17.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:43:17. > :43:27.Sithole Southampton. Jason Pearce, the defender beaten for the goal. -
:43:27. > :43:27.
:43:27. > :44:25.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:44:25. > :44:32.the goal. I think he is definitely leaning on him, David Norris. Just
:44:32. > :44:39.edges his body in. Good decision, I think, from Mark Halsey. From that,
:44:39. > :44:49.Southampton scored. The game has gone very scrappy, hasn't it? It
:44:49. > :45:28.
:45:28. > :45:38.has almost knocked the stuffing out some ways where in the last four
:45:38. > :45:48.games they felt a bit, but West Ham also lost. That was not dissimilar
:45:48. > :45:50.
:45:50. > :45:54.from the position Southampton scored from. No. If the defenders
:45:54. > :46:04.stay a bit higher for the initial goal, he will have something to
:46:04. > :46:22.
:46:22. > :46:32.you look at the Portsmouth bench, there is a young Hungarian down
:46:32. > :46:33.
:46:33. > :46:38.there, Marko Futacs. He has got options, hasn't he? More of a
:46:39. > :46:44.tactical change needs to be made. With the one up front, it is very
:46:44. > :46:54.difficult for them. Kitson has put in a shift, that is for sure. But
:46:54. > :46:54.
:46:54. > :47:44.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:47:44. > :47:53.in the middle. Almost too clever here, isn't he? He should have hit
:47:53. > :48:03.that first time. A shot from 30 yards which did not travel
:48:03. > :48:05.
:48:05. > :48:15.endlessly. If Bobby scores from there, it is goal of the season. --
:48:15. > :48:51.
:48:51. > :48:58.any minute. The foul goes against Kitson and more frustration for him.
:48:58. > :49:08.Yes, an honest challenge but he is actually fouling his opponent. He
:49:08. > :49:14.
:49:14. > :49:24.Southampton. Fox coming off and Harding going on. He will play at
:49:24. > :49:25.
:49:25. > :49:35.left-back. A strange substitution. You wonder if poppy has got an
:49:35. > :49:45.injury or a problem... -- if he has got an injury. I think his
:49:45. > :49:59.
:49:59. > :50:09.this throw-in. Portsmouth are also going to make a change and Hayden
:50:09. > :50:20.
:50:20. > :50:30.Mullins is coming off and Marko strike on, Steve? Yeah. They have
:50:30. > :50:30.
:50:30. > :51:52.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:51:52. > :51:58.in injury time? -- cannot -- can pressure from Southampton, isn't
:51:58. > :52:02.it? Every time the ball comes into that box, they are dangerous. Do
:52:02. > :52:07.Prado getting on to the end of it and just over swinging. Can't
:52:07. > :52:17.generate the power but good defending in the end. Two players
:52:17. > :52:42.
:52:42. > :52:52.getting in the wake of it. -- in more than his fair share of headers.
:52:52. > :52:52.
:52:52. > :53:58.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:53:58. > :54:08.He has been excellent and will be Portsmouth were a bit fortunate
:54:08. > :54:12.
:54:12. > :54:16.that they are only a goal behind. Good move here from Hooiveld.
:54:16. > :54:21.Excellent the way they keep the ball, Steve. Just looking for that
:54:21. > :54:31.run. Great movement off the ball and the keeper doing a great save.
:54:31. > :54:41.
:54:41. > :54:51.But more space in there. The field Portsmouth but as it is, they are
:54:51. > :54:51.
:54:51. > :55:38.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:55:38. > :55:42.noise from behind that goal. A long ball from the keeper. Kitson
:55:42. > :55:52.flicking it on and suddenly they have another striker alongside him,
:55:52. > :56:08.
:56:08. > :56:12.which makes it difficult for goal and Portsmouth are level!
:56:12. > :56:19.best bet was always going to be a set-piece. Hardly seen them in the
:56:19. > :56:29.final third. In the end, a great header back across the goal. Ward
:56:29. > :57:09.
:57:09. > :57:15.climbs up ahead of everybody else. Appleton is waving his players
:57:15. > :57:25.forward. Look at a fire in his eyes! My goodness, Martin! He looks
:57:25. > :57:34.
:57:34. > :57:40.like you! He wants it badly! system. Yeah, and it has borne
:57:40. > :57:49.through. The corner was won by a long clearance down from the
:57:49. > :57:59.goalkeeper. Kitson caused the problem and from the corner, this
:57:59. > :57:59.
:57:59. > :59:19.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:59:19. > :59:26.was Portsmouth's route back into but it was blocked. This last four,
:59:26. > :59:36.five minutes could be real Grandstand staff. -- Grandstand
:59:36. > :00:09.
:00:09. > :00:19.You want him where he will be take what either side. -- for
:00:19. > :00:19.
:00:19. > :01:07.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:01:07. > :01:17.just catches him as it goes in with bad food, follow-through. -- back
:01:17. > :01:32.
:01:32. > :01:42.for it. It was an uncompromising pros, he is every bit as effective
:01:42. > :02:04.
:02:04. > :02:14.disappointment. He doesn't look fit. All eyes will be on the 4th
:02:14. > :02:14.
:02:14. > :03:34.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds
:03:34. > :03:40.official to say how much added time bullet. It would have been
:03:40. > :03:46.somewhere. It shows you the confidence he has. It is a great
:03:46. > :03:51.effort. It comes back to him off the clearance, he backs away at...
:03:51. > :04:01.He backed himself to hit it and he was very unlucky. Good technique.
:04:01. > :04:29.
:04:29. > :04:35.Henderson looking delighted that Southampton Two-nil up but didn't
:04:35. > :04:44.take it and then was beaten at the back post for what turned out to be
:04:44. > :04:54.suggested at the start of the second half, a draw wouldn't be a
:04:54. > :04:59.
:04:59. > :05:04.bad result for Labour side. -- there is contact. -- jumps for it.
:05:04. > :05:08.Henderson is not going to hurry back to his feet. I can't see that
:05:08. > :05:13.this is a free kick. The ball is there to be one, the striker has
:05:13. > :05:18.got to go for it. What is wrong with that? Maybe Mark Halsey can
:05:18. > :05:24.tell us afterwards. I can't see what is wrong with that. If he
:05:24. > :05:34.didn't go for it, his manager wouldn't be very happy. Henderson
:05:34. > :05:40.
:05:40. > :05:43.it is a Portsmouth fans who are probably the happier. Michael
:05:43. > :05:48.Appleton's excellent start as Portsmouth manager continues. They
:05:48. > :05:51.have certainly fanned an upward trajectory since he took over. --
:05:51. > :05:56.banned. Rickie Lambert scored the goal that you almost expect from
:05:56. > :06:02.him now but their lead didn't last too long. Joel Ward with the
:06:02. > :06:06.equaliser. A draw is probably about right.
:06:07. > :06:11.JAKE HUMPHREY: It is a season of goodwill and what a very friendly
:06:11. > :06:17.piece of defending from Guly Do Prado. We will look at that again
:06:17. > :06:22.in just a few moments. It finishes 1-1 on the south coast. Of
:06:22. > :06:26.Portsmouth go four games unbeaten. Steve, you were fearing the worst
:06:27. > :06:31.for a while. STEVE CLARIDGE: We waited for a
:06:31. > :06:35.game and we got it eventually. Going two up front for Portsmouth...
:06:35. > :06:39.Yes, they could have got beaten more and conceded again but it also
:06:39. > :06:43.gave them a chance of getting a foothold in the game. As it worked
:06:43. > :06:49.out, they got back into the game that didn't look like it for long
:06:49. > :06:52.periods. Frustration to elation for Steve, the opposite for you, Alan.
:06:52. > :06:57.You're all team had chances to kill the game off.
:06:57. > :07:01.ALAN SHEARER: Before the game, if you said you can take a point, you
:07:01. > :07:07.probably would, but they should have put the game out of sight and
:07:07. > :07:10.they will be bitterly disappointed. They will see it as two points lost
:07:10. > :07:14.rather than one gained. Their quality came through in the second
:07:14. > :07:19.half and they managed to get their foot on the ball about Blake
:07:19. > :07:26.Portsmouth, but plenty of endeavour and passion and where Craig from
:07:26. > :07:31.Portsmouth and ensure Michael Appleton would save a deserved it -
:07:31. > :07:34.- would say they deserve it. It is three years ago now that they were
:07:34. > :07:38.playing AC Milan in Europe. We would love to see them get back to
:07:39. > :07:43.those dizzy heights. Michael Appleton has just got to do a solid
:07:44. > :07:47.job and at the moment, that is a few games without defeat, drawing
:07:47. > :07:51.in the big derby, it is starting to look better. Absolutely. Their
:07:51. > :07:56.first away win last week was a turning point, so they can go away
:07:56. > :08:01.from home and winning games. You cannot rely solely on your home
:08:01. > :08:05.form. There is plenty of endeavour, plenty of spirit and belief in what
:08:05. > :08:09.they are doing. They come up a bit short occasionally and I am not
:08:09. > :08:14.sure how much they wanted to win the game, but they have got
:08:14. > :08:17.something that they probably set out to do. That is now 14 points
:08:18. > :08:22.from 18 available from home for Portsmouth but said and did have
:08:22. > :08:30.extended their lead at the top to one. Over West Ham -- Southampton
:08:30. > :08:33.have extended their lead. That his promotion form, Portsmouth, 27
:08:33. > :08:37.promotion form, Portsmouth, 27 points from 21. Let's talk about
:08:37. > :08:40.the team that took the lead. Have you seen enough to believe they can
:08:40. > :08:46.go from League 1 to the Premier League in a season? It is difficult
:08:46. > :08:51.to judge from one game. From what I have seen through the season, yes,
:08:51. > :08:53.but from the first half today, no. But the team top would have been
:08:54. > :08:57.about being better than that and getting your foot on the ball and
:08:57. > :09:01.something will come. And they did and it was no surprise that it came
:09:01. > :09:08.from their main hitman Rickie Lambert. He took it very well. A
:09:08. > :09:13.good ball in. The same ball coming good from Fox. Into identical
:09:13. > :09:17.positions, which we will see here, this is the first one in. The
:09:17. > :09:23.keeper does it come, Lallana gets it at the far post and should do
:09:23. > :09:28.better. Five a six minutes later, exactly the same thing happens,
:09:28. > :09:34.exactly the same player would sit in -- five or six. The defence gets
:09:34. > :09:40.deep, Henderson chooses not to come and Rickie Lambert, you have to say,
:09:40. > :09:44.he is a bully their. He is stronger and he wanted more. -- there. That
:09:44. > :09:48.is the side of a very good goalscorer, he once said that much
:09:48. > :09:55.that little bit more. Goal 17 of the season, that is the difference
:09:55. > :09:58.between these teams. Southampton have conceded a goal more than
:09:58. > :10:03.Portsmouth but Portsmouth haven't been scoring them. Southampton
:10:03. > :10:07.could have put it to bed, couldn't they? They had at 10 or 15 minute
:10:07. > :10:12.spell when the game opened up and all a sudden, you can associate the
:10:12. > :10:19.way they play with this game. You could end up until then. There are
:10:19. > :10:24.some nice movement, someone TWO's, some overlapping. -- some 1-2s.
:10:24. > :10:30.They didn't take their chances, but the problem was, Portsmouth were
:10:30. > :10:34.still in the game and they hadn't killed them off. That was a period
:10:34. > :10:38.where we saw the real Southampton. Apart from that, I am not quite
:10:38. > :10:43.sure we saw the best of them. one of those chances forced to
:10:43. > :10:46.Lambert, it is game over. Let's talk about the goal that was scored
:10:46. > :10:51.the other end, that nearly had to climb in through the window
:10:51. > :10:57.celebrating. The man who missed a couple of opportunities there
:10:57. > :11:03.Southampton could have stopped this goal. If you look at Joel Ward and
:11:03. > :11:09.you look at Guly Do Prado, it is to completely different desires. --
:11:10. > :11:15.two. Look at Joel Ward, how he attacks the ball. Guly Do Prado, it
:11:15. > :11:21.was fifty-fifty and then it becomes a 80-20. And it's a goal. That is
:11:21. > :11:25.the difference between winning and losing a game. He is 6 ft 6, why
:11:25. > :11:28.his the not picking someone up that he is on the post? That is the
:11:29. > :11:36.problem. It was a goal for Portsmouth, let's hear from Joel
:11:36. > :11:40.Ward. A priceless equaliser for your side.
:11:40. > :11:45.Yes, I have been at the club all my life and to get the equaliser in
:11:45. > :11:49.such a big game, everybody knows how big their game is between us,
:11:49. > :11:53.to get back to equalise and to come away with the point is fantastic.
:11:53. > :11:59.If you keep the belief even when you went Wandel bad and they seemed
:12:00. > :12:03.on top? -- Did you. We kept compact and we stayed in the game and that
:12:03. > :12:07.was the main thing and we worked hard and I think we deserved a goal.
:12:07. > :12:11.A full-blooded affair between two side in front of very passionate
:12:11. > :12:14.fans. Everybody knows throughout the country how big it is for the
:12:14. > :12:19.fans and for the clubs and we played well, we kept it clean on
:12:19. > :12:23.the pitch and that is the important thing. They are the league leaders
:12:23. > :12:27.and you have matched them, can you kick on? We said before the game,
:12:27. > :12:31.it could be the start of kicking on for us and I think we can do that,
:12:31. > :12:37.we can push on and take momentum from this game. Well done, thank
:12:37. > :12:42.you. Cy two goals here at Fratton Park.
:12:42. > :12:45.Two goals at Loftus Road and Aston Villa, Manchester United beating
:12:45. > :12:51.QPR in the day's any kick-off and Liverpool are Two-nil up against
:12:51. > :12:54.them at the moment -- early kick- off. Manchester City looking to
:12:54. > :12:59.extend their top -- lead at the top of the Premier League in the late
:12:59. > :13:01.kick-off. You can see all of the goals tonight at 10pm on Match of
:13:01. > :13:04.the Day 2 with Colin Murray. And the Day 2 with Colin Murray. And
:13:04. > :13:11.that isn't it for the sport this afternoon on the BBC, all of the
:13:11. > :13:14.action from they British rounds of the World Cup coming up. -- the
:13:14. > :13:18.the World Cup coming up. -- the British round of the World Cup.
:13:18. > :13:22.Goal 17 for Rickie Lambert. He is talking to Tony.
:13:22. > :13:26.You 17th goal of the season, it looked like it would give you
:13:27. > :13:30.success today, but not today. should have been. Obviously gutted
:13:30. > :13:34.that we have conceded in the last few minutes and we didn't really
:13:34. > :13:37.have the chance -- they didn't have a chance and then they scored from
:13:37. > :13:41.a corner. Did you regret not getting a second goal? You had
:13:41. > :13:45.plenty of chances. We were looking to push on the counter-attack that
:13:45. > :13:50.we had a couple of chances we didn't take, but we shouldn't have
:13:50. > :13:54.to score two, one should be enough. An important goal to give your side
:13:54. > :13:57.of the lead, did you think you would go on and win? I thought we
:13:57. > :14:02.were comfortable, it didn't look like they were going to get back in
:14:02. > :14:08.the game. You are top of the table going into the new year and
:14:08. > :14:11.Christmas. Can you go on and get promoted? We hope so. We have had a
:14:11. > :14:16.good half of the season and we will be looking to do that in the second
:14:16. > :14:20.half, we have to take every game as it comes. Thank you.
:14:20. > :14:24.It is a footballing cliche and also a cliche to say it was a game of
:14:24. > :14:29.two halves, but it probably was. Looking great for Southampton but
:14:29. > :14:35.it was and debate. In the Christmas season, the season of goodwill, 11
:14:35. > :14:39.is probably right, isn't it? really. No. I knew you would say
:14:39. > :14:44.that. Lovely to spend the afternoon with you. It looked as their father
:14:44. > :14:47.Christmas had come early with the Rickie Lambert celebrating a famous
:14:47. > :14:50.red and white outfit but a gift from a Saints player was just what
:14:50. > :14:54.Portsmouth needed. They may have problems off the pitch but they
:14:54. > :14:57.showed on it, they can mix with the very best, drawing with the league