Win 'would mean more than three points' - Mousinho

John Mousinho will manage Portsmouth in the 72nd derby between Pompey and Southampton

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho has said a win over local rivals Southampton would "mean more" than just three points.

Sunday's south coast derby is just the fifth meeting between the two sides in the past 15 years.

Portsmouth have had a stronger start to the season compared to their rivals, winning two matches and collecting two points more than Saints from their first four Championship games.

"For the city of Portsmouth and everyone connected to the football club, a win would mean more than just three points," Mousinho told BBC Sport.

"It means a huge amount to everyone here. I guarantee that we will do everything we possibly can to win.

"We'll try to come away with three points and whatever happens will probably affect everyone's weeks, years and seasons."

This will be Mousinho's first derby since becoming Pompey boss more than two years ago.

The two clubs have met 71 times, with Southampton winning 35, Portsmouth winning 21 and 15 matches drawn.

"Everyone has been talking about it since the fixtures came out," he said.

"It's pretty much all everyone speaks about and I think it's going to be a brilliant game, the atmosphere in the ground and around the game is going to be completely different to anything we have experienced so far.

"I don't think anything can properly prepare you for it, apart from being sure we are ultra professional, making sure we expect it and then use it to our advantage.

"If you speak to any professional footballer, they want to play in front of hostile crowds in big games and then relish it."

The paths that the two sides have been on since their most recent league meeting have been quite different.

While Southampton have had a sustained period in the Premier League and played in the Europa League, Portsmouth have been faced with a rebuilding project after sinking all the way to League Two while dealing with financial issues.

"We have massive respect for the opposition and we know how dangerous they can be on their day," Mousinho said of Southampton, who were relegated from the top flight last season.

"We're playing one of the sides who are favourites for promotion and we have to make sure we go and approach it in the right way.

"We have to make sure we make it as difficult a game for them as possible and we can play the way that we want to play."