THE graffiti daubed on a house outside Portsmouth's Fratton Park ground that greeted Saints fans spoke for itself - it said "Southampton, Welcome to Hell".

And for frustrated supporters, the sentiments proved prophetic as Harry Redknapp's men were handed a 4-1 drubbing by a rampant Pompey side in yesterday's eagerly anticipated derby clash.

This morning Saints fans were facing the prospect of just three vital more games to save their Premiership lives.

The only silver lining that could be taken from yesterday's dismal defeat was the relatively peaceful scenes at Fratton Park - a stark contrast from the last time the two clubs met at the ground when police struggled against some of the worst violence seen in south coast football since the 1980s.

Riots broke out around the stadium as a minority of Portsmouth fans staged running street battles with police, and a major inquiry was launched after the match in March last year.

In contrast, yesterday police thanked everyone for their co-operation - and heaped praise on the people of Portsmouth.

Chief Superintendent Dan Clacher, match day co-ordinator, said: "I'm extremely pleased that people heeded the advice given and that common sense prevailed. Let's hope this sets out the standard for the coming years of football in Portsmouth.

"Today can be regarded as a successful policing operation and I would like to give grateful thanks to the people of Portsmouth who helped and supported us through it."

Tensions, as expected, were running high as supporters made the 20-mile trip along the coast.

One thousand excited Saints fans had arrived at Southampton Central train station eagerly anticipating the crunch clash.

But their high spirits soon turned to anger as the football supporters' special service - which had been laid on by South West Trains and came highly recommended by police - failed to materialise without explanation from railway staff.

Finally, fans crammed themselves into a scheduled train destined for Fratton Park which was eventually turned into a replacement special service by South West Trains with the addition of four extra coaches.

But there was still a 50-minute delay for supporters to contend with before the train eventually left Southampton.

Greg Baker, of Ashurst, decided to catch the fans' special because he believed it was the safest and most reliable way of getting to the game.

Mr Baker said: "They have had eight months to organise this. We are customers and we are paying money to go to games.

"I don't see why we should have to suffer. It's terrible - people just end up getting to the match frustrated."

Nick Gayton, a Saints fan from Chandler's Ford, added: "We were told not to drive so we decided to travel by train. I missed the start of last season's match and I can't believe it's happened again."

Fans' anger increased as the train stopped at every station between Southampton and Fratton - eventually arriving just minutes before the game's scheduled midday kick-off.

For one fan at the head of the queue on the long march to Fratton Park from the station, it proved too much and he became involved in a scuffle with a police horse.

Just half an hour later - as if to mirror the fans' mood- - the rainy skies clouded over and the drizzle came down.

After 30 minutes contemplating the future locked inside Fratton Park after the game, dejected Southampton fans were escorted out of the ground and back to their waiting train and coaches.

It would be a long journey back - and an even longer wait to see if Southampton can manage to avoid the drop this season.