# Southampton edge Portsmouth in derby

> 10-man Southampton beat Portsmouth in tight Championship derby after coach Eckert avoids ban.
- Title: Southampton edge Portsmouth in derby · the Guardian | Shortify
- Summary: 10-man Southampton beat Portsmouth in tight Championship derby after coach Eckert avoids ban. Southampton won 1-0 against Portsmouth in a Championship derby…
- Keywords: southampton, portsmouth, championship, tonda eckert, spygate, derby, championship match, sports, edge, the Guardian
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/11/southampton-portsmouth-championship-match-report
- Published: 2026-10-11T13:18:33+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: southampton, portsmouth, championship, tonda eckert, spygate, derby, championship match, sports
## Southampton win derby
Southampton beat Portsmouth 1-0 in a tight Championship derby with 10 men after Cameron Bragg was sent off.
## Eckert avoids ban
Coach Tonda Eckert avoided a six-week ban for Spygate misconduct after genuine contrition from FA disciplinary commission.
## Eckert's statement
Eckert said, 'I think that one today belongs to the players.If you go a man down there’s not so much you can do as a manager outside of trying to give a structure that helps.'

> I think that one today belongs to the players. If you go a man down there’s not so much you can do as a manager outside of trying to give a structure that helps.
## Eckert's clean slate
Eckert now has a clean slate after Southampton’s first home win over Portsmouth in 22 years.
## Portsmouth's reaction
Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho said, 'It was a different game after the red card.

> It was a different game after the red card. But for the amount of pressure we had in the second half, the amount of opportunities we had, to not put the ball in the back of the net, we’re devastated.
## Southampton's next step
Southampton move into the top half of the Championship table with a third place finish without the points deduction.
## Key takeaway

Southampton won 1-0 against Portsmouth in a Championship derby despite playing with 10 men after coach Tonda Eckert avoided a ban for Spygate misconduct.