Will Still and John Mousinho share verdicts on heated handshake after Southampton vs Portsmouth

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The South Coast derby ended in a goalless stalemate, with one of the major talking points coming at full-time.

Southampton and Portsmouth drew 0-0 on Saturday afternoon in a fiercely contested South Coast derby affair.

Southampton and Portsmouth achieved a feat not seen in 125 years with the goalless draw, but despite the lack of goals, drama still ensued.

Ahead of the game, Sky Sports pundit David Prutton predicted a “feisty affair”, and it certainly was with a flurry of full-blooded challenges throughout.

When the full-time whistle was blown, tempers from the match boiled over into an interaction between Saints boss Will Still and Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho, with the pair sharing differing opinions on the matter.

• READ MORE: Will Still explains what Southampton ‘must learn’ after goalless derby draw vs Portsmouth

Will Still ‘did not get’ John Mousinho handshake incident

Still and Mousinho recreated Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte’s moment at full-time with the pair involved in a heated handshake.

Throughout the derby, the two bosses clashed on the touchline with Still shown a yellow card for airing his frustrations regarding a Pompey free-kick.

When asked about the handshake incident, Still told the Southern Daily Echo: “I didn’t quite get that. Well, it’s just a derby, it’s football, isn’t it?

“I don’t mind it, but I didn’t and don’t understand why he grabbed hold of my hand, but fair play, he came with a game plan and did what they wanted to do.

“Like I said, he’s a good coach, he’s a good manager, and he’s done really good things with Portsmouth. Fair play to him, it’s just part of football, so it’s fine.”

After the goalless stalemate, Portsmouth boss Mousinho offered a more sarcastic verdict on their altercation.

• READ MORE: Former Portsmouth manager gives honest verdict as John Mousinho picks up ‘very good point’ vs Southampton

John Mousinho’s verdict on heated handshake with Will Still

Mousinho also cut an angry figure on the St Mary’s touchline on Saturday afternoon, and the Pompey boss was particularly vexed by a push from Tom Fellows, which led to the substitutions of Nicolas Schmid and Connor Ogilvie.

Perhaps that is where the anger towards Still stemmed from at full-time in the moment captured perfectly by the Sky Sports camera.

After refusing to release Still’s hand after the shake, Mousinho sarcastically quipped that the two rival bosses are “good mates”.

“It was nothing, it’s just me and him are good mates!”, Mousinho sarcastically told the Southern Daily Echo.

“Don’t worry about it. It was fine. It was a strong handshake.

“I just said good luck for the rest of the season. I don’t know him. I just get peppered in my left ear all game. I try and concentrate on my own side.

“He made a good sprint onto the pitch early on. I thought that was good, I didn’t think you were allowed to do that. But no, he’s fine. No problems.

“When you’re competing against each other, that’s what you expect. I don’t want anyone to come off and be the best of friends after a game.

“I certainly don’t think the two managers of this football club should be mates. There should be a bit of feisty competition. I absolutely love it.”

Mousinho and Still will have to wait over four months for their revenge when Portsmouth host Southampton on January 25. Will there be a similarly strong shake of hands next time around?