The first league meeting between Southampton and Portsmouth for more than 13 years ended in a feisty draw, a slew of yellow cards the giveaway sign that this derby is back on the menu.

Will Still, the Southampton manager, was among those cautioned but, in a typically edgy game short on quality and clear chances, the visitors came closest to scoring, with the Portsmouth midfielder Andre Dozzell curling a first-time shot against the crossbar nine minutes into the contest.

Former Spurs manager had his 60th birthday plans upended by job offer but feels ‘things happen for a reason’

Ange Postecoglou walked out of the City Ground tunnel, which is decorated with famous images from yesteryear, and surveyed the scene. Just like that, the new Nottingham Forest head coach, in a blue suit, open‑neck white shirt and Paul Smith trainers – the designer is a son of the city – was back in business. He posed with the garibaldi red shirt and before long was explaining how Forest’s move interrupted his belated 60th birthday celebrations last weekend. “We had this whole thing planned, The Hangover-style, but we were in bed by 10pm as we realised our age,” Postecoglou said.

It was in May, when the Europa League trophy parade halted outside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, that Postecoglou provided a memorable mic-drop moment: declaring that season three always eclipses season two in the best TV series. Four months after being sacked, replacing Nuno Espírito Santo three games into the Premier League season, provided quite the plot twist.