Portsmouth dressing room fires clear opening south-coast derby statement ahead of Southampton showdown
The south-coast derby is on the horizon - and anticipation is building as Pompey get set to travel into enemy territory.
Odin Bailey promised the Fratton Faithful Pompey’s dressing room understands exactly what’s on the line in the south-coast derby.
And the Blues midfielder vowed John Mousinho’s new-look squad will be out to deliver ‘bragging rights’ on a ‘massive’ occasion at Southampton on October 11.
Pompey midfielder: ‘You have to understand what’s on the line’
Pompey and their rivals from up the M27 collide after the international break, with the clash once again set to be a fierce occasion.
It’s been 16 years since Pompey have held a higher divisional status than their foes, as they dropped out of the Premier League in the 2009-10 season.
But Southampton has failed to beat the Blues in league action for 21 years, with two divisions separating the clubs in the 4-0 Carabao Cup success seven years ago.
Pompey will be looking to extend that run with a positive result, after a busy summer in which 11 players were recruited.
Among them is Odin Bailey as those new faces experience the occasion for the first time, with the midfielder promising they know what’s at stake.
He said: ‘I’ve seen the game before on TV.
‘It’s hard to get a real feel for it through a TV screen though, but I’m really looking forward to to it.
‘I’m going to soak up the atmosphere as much as I can and embrace every single moment of it.
‘That’s what it’s ultimately for. You play football to enjoy moments like that.
‘You have to understand what’s on the line, but also have a clear mind that there’s a job to do.
‘We want to come away with three points, because we know it will be massive for everyone.
‘It’s bragging rights and everything which goes with it.
‘Even us as players, we want those bragging rights as well.’
Bailey picked up some more minutes last weekend against Blackburn and is gunning to add to that total, as he gave an insight into differing ways Pompey players will approach the game.
He added:‘It’s going to be a huge game but, for us as players, we need to treat it like another game while in the back of our heads having that awareness of what’s on the line - then go and show how much we want it.
‘Every player is different.
‘For me, personally, I like to find a sweet spot of not getting too high or too low - somewhere in the middle.
‘Some players are different and get themselves charged up, some are more relaxed.
‘It depends person to person, but I want to find a balance between high energy and calmness in the mind.’