The pressure is on Southampton - analysis

Portsmouth travel to Southampton on Sunday at 12:00 BST

I've worked at St Mary's a number of times for Premier League matches, European nights and England hosting qualifiers.

When has it been the loudest? That's an easy one - 7 April 2012 - the last south coast derby there. It wasn't just the noise it was the intensity of the atmosphere that felt so rare.

£40 tickets and mandatory bus travel to the ground with no food or drink carried isn't exactly what you'd describe as a great "fan experience" for the travelling Pompey fans.

However the 2,700 tickets were snapped up and the Blues faithful will be heard loud and clear.

It's clear there's more pressure on Southampton. Five points from four games is a disappointing start for a side hoping to win promotion.

This is not a free hit for Portsmouth though. A derby defeat would be a huge blow even if it wouldn't completely take away what's been a very encouraging start to the campaign.

It's an opportunity for someone to write themselves into Pompey folklore the way David Norris did 13 years ago.

It doesn't matter that his goal didn't save Pompey from relegation or deny Southampton promotion, we live for the incredible moments as football fans and that was a very special one.

Supporters are still buzzing from the deadline day arrival of Conor Chaplin.

It means another local boy in the dressing room in case players need any reminding how significant the game is, although Marlon Pack has been on that case ever since it became clear the sides would in the same division.

Emotions aside Portsmouth have looked a side more than capable of achieving their objectives in the first month of the season.

In Josh Murphy they have one of the best players in the division and crucially they look a much better side away from home than the outfit that was really struggling 12 months ago.