Southampton FC: Palmer makes claim before massive South Coast derby

Saints have already beaten Pompey twice this season - 5-0 in the Women's Championship and 4-0 in the League Cup - but are eight league games without a win.

Four defeats and four draws have followed their last Championship victory - a 1-0 win at Charlton Athletic - in early November.

Portsmouth, who looked dead and buried until now, have won back-to-back games, their only victories of the season, leading up to this weekend's game.

Palmer admitted Portsmouth's turnaround has provided a motivational boost for a squad already up for the South Coast derby. 

Aimee Palmer wins the ball at St Mary's. (Image: Southampton FC / Chris Moorhouse) "Going into the game, we know we've got to be at our best," she told the Daily Echo. "We have always got to be at our best, but more so because it's a derby as well.

"We're not going to think any less of them because we've beat them twice before. It's going to be a big game for both of us.

"They've got more to fight for, so obviously they're going to bring their A-game, but I think we've kind of turned a corner now. Our performance against Birmingham was good.

"It was better than our previous performances, so it's just about us building on that and finally getting the results together."

Southampton FC's last win in any competition came against Pompey all the way back in late November.

They have failed to win any of their eight games across all competitions since that comfortable 4-0 League Cup victory.

It is a run which has seen Saints slip down to eighth in the Women's Championship, once place above Pompey.

"I think we have to pretty much eliminate the previous two performances against them," Palmer continued. "Even though it's the same team, they are looking like a new team. 

"It's important for us to prepare as we would for every other game - probably more than every other game because it's a derby. It's massive for the fans. It's massive for us."

The poor form at Saints has forced a change in the dugout. Marieanne Spacey-Cale has returned to the grass to replace Remi Allen, who left by mutual agreement last month.

Marieanne Spacey-Cale leads Saints Women training at Staplewood Campus. (Image: Southampton FC) Palmer, who had hoped to win a third career promotion this season with Saints, admitted it was "hard" to see Allen leave so soon but insisted players have to move on.

And although they suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Championship league leaders Birmingham on Spacey-Cale's return, Palmer is confident they can improve their results. 

"As players, nothing really changes for us. We focus as much as we did with Remi. We work our best day in and day out.

"I think it's a more on-the-ball kind of style of play which suits us, so I think it'll be good for us to go into this game with a lot of confidence and being on the ball. 

"I think it's hard because everyone built a relationship with her. Remi was a nice woman, so it's not nice to see someone lose their job.

"As professional footballers, we have to get on with it and park those emotions aside. I think we all dealt with it really well. We have to come in and do our job just as anyone else would."

Aimee Palmer during Southampton FC Women's defeat at Durham. (Image: Southampton FC/George Wood)

She added: "All of us are disappointed with where we are. I think now it's just about building our confidence back up and picking up points in the last few games.

"Finishing as high up as we can is really important. We have to move on to the next season after these last five games. 

"This is a great game for us to go into off the back of a 2-1 defeat. We know the fans are going to be right behind us and helping us along every step of the way.

"Hopefully the three points will kind of turn the corner for us and we'll start picking up more results as we go."

Tickets are still available for Saturday's game, which kicks off at 5:30pm and are priced at £10 for adults and £4 for Under 18s.