53 cracking images of Portsmouth fans gathering at Fratton Park before heading to Southampton for south-coast derby

It’s derby day on the south coast and the Pompey fans have risen early to ensure they play their part at St Mary’s.

2,500 Blues supporters have gathered at agreed meeting points at Fratton Park, Lakeside North Harbour and Winchester Park & Ride in order to be bussed into Southampton in a club-managed convoy.

And every single one of them has a role to play as John Mousinho’s side head into enemy territory in the hope of getting the better of their fierce rivals.

The 2,700 supporters who made the same trip last year to St Mary’s had a major bearing on the goalless draw that emerged last season, which was the first staging of a south-coast derby in the league since the 2011-12 campaign.

The same applies this year, with the Blues desperate to once again silent the Southampton supporters on their home patch.

Approximately 1,400 Pompey fans gathered at Fratton Park from around 7.30am on Sunday morning to make the trip along the M27.

The News was there to send them on their way thanks to photographer Marcin Jedrysiak.

See if you can see yourself or a loved one as the Fratton faithful head to St Mary’s in the hope that history can be made.

For your next Pompey read: Live coverage of Southampton v Pompey from St Mary’s