John Mousinho has acknowledged the importance of the Pompey fans ahead of Sunday’s south-coast derby at Southampton

John Mousinho believes the support of the 2,500 Pompey fans who will be bussed in and out of Southampton on Sunday have a huge role to play in the outcome of the latest south-coast derby.

And their importance will be appreciated the second he and his team step inside St Mary’s - at a time when none of the home supporters will have been allowed through the turnstiles.

Last season a boisterous away end greeted the Blues as they entered the stadium via an entrance close to the section of the ground that was housing the travelling Fratton faithful and walked along the side of the pitch to their changing room.

They were the only supporters present, having been ushered inside long before kick-off as part of the club-managed travel bubble that will once again be rolled out for both of this season’s south-coast derbies.

It’s an arrangement that many disagree with. Yet it provided Pompey with a huge lift last term as they walked into St Mary’s to a chorus of noise generated by their own fans.

That magical moment remains embedded in the memory of Mousinho, as does the unbelievable support he and his troops got throughout last season’s away game at Southampton.

It helped the visitors to defy the odds and secure a goalless draw at the home of their fierce rivals.

And the Blues boss believes that inspirational backing from the Fratton faithful will be just as crucial this time around as the two teams once again go head-to-head.

‘It's going to be massively important,’ said Mousinho when asked about the Pompey fans’ presence in his pre-match press conference.

‘We know that when we walk into the stadium, the away fans are going to be the only ones that are going to be in there at that point.

‘That made a massive difference when we walked in last year, and we heard them throughout the 90 minutes as well, making as much noise as possible and supporting the side.’

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