Crossword Genius

Joan's partner vocally supporting pub's closely contested fixture? (5,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

local derby

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'joan's partner vocally supporting' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot tell whether this works.

'pub's closely contested fixture?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'pub' could be 'local' (one's local pub) and 'local' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'derby' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for local derby that I've seen before include "grudge match?" , "Meeting of neighbours" , "big match" , "in which emotions run high" , "Match between two close sides?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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