Will Still sends Southampton squad hilarious ultimatum ahead of South Coast derby vs Portsmouth

Add as preferred source on Google

Southampton host bitter rivals Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon, and Will Still has a tongue-in-cheek reminder for his Saints stars.

Southampton and Portsmouth will draw swords in the Championship this weekend in an inevitably raucous South Coast derby affair.

Sky Sports pundit David Prutton expects a “feisty affair” in Southampton vs Portsmouth, and the authorities would tend to agree after their fans were issued a police warning ahead of the derby showdown.

The Saints and Pompey face each other for the first time in six years at St Mary’s, with the most recent result between the two coming with Southampton’s 4-0 Carabao Cup win in 2019 at Fratton Park.

Still is expecting a difficult game from Portsmouth, and the Saints boss has offered a comedic, but clear, demand for his Southampton squad ahead of derby day.

• READ MORE: Mads Roerslev makes exciting promise to Southampton fans ahead of Portsmouth derby clash

Will Still gives ‘go fishing’ warning to Southampton squad ahead of Portsmouth derby

In the build-up to Saturday’s derby clash, Still has taken great strides to get the gravity of the result across to his Southampton squad.

Southampton’s social media content has been adorned with derby day glory, and former Saints stars have come to St Mary’s to talk to Still’s squad about what the Pompey clash means to the supporters.

It would beggar belief for any Southampton or Portsmouth player not to be chomping at the bit to feature in the South Coast derby, and Still has now told his players to “go fishing” if they are not up for the affair.

Still told the Southern Daily Echo: “The players should enjoy it. If you’re not up for this sort of game and if you can’t enjoy it, then go fishing or something.

“Do something else because you’re not doing the right thing. This is why we do it, this is why we’re here and this is what we want to do as well.”

The Saints boss added: “We’ve got to turn up, we’ve got to be big boys, we’ve got to meet the physical demand and stress factor that’s involved in the game.

“In fact, we’ve not just got to meet it, we’ve got to be better than whatever they’re doing. We’ve also got to get the basics right as well.

“We’ve got to defend properly, we’ve got to move the ball and shift the ball properly and get in behind them to cause them enough problems.

“So I think it’s a balance of managing the physicality and managing the occasion but also doing things right and playing the right way.

“Tactics will at some point not be as important as that emotional energy that flows, but we’ve just got to make sure that we strike the right balance.”

• READ MORE: Southampton man must impress Will Still this Championship season as he faces last chance at Saints

Will Still shares Southampton injury update ahead of Portsmouth clash

Ahead of the clash, Still offered Southampton an injury update, with no new knocks to report from the Saints squad.

“The health is all good, only Wellington, whose ankle problem is not quite right.”, Still told Southampton’s media.

“Damion (Downs) is not back yet, hopefully he’ll be back tomorrow (Friday) which leaves us with not long before the game. The other returnees have been drip-fed back into the team, most were there today. But yeah, mostly we’re looking good.”

Still added: “It’s a good squad, it’s a big one, but a good one, a good injection of quality, but with good people signing also. We’re at a big club, so there’s always competition for places.”

After an impressive haul in the summer transfer window, the Southampton faithful will be keen to see Finn Azaz make his debut despite his worrying performance for Ireland against Armenia during the break.

Throughout his time at Middlesbrough, the attacking midfielder’s eye for goal proved to be decisive so often, and a goal in the derby would make it a dream debut for Azaz if the £12m recruit is given the nod by Still on Saturday.