GOONERSGUIDE ENGLISH FA CUP NEWS SECTION

This is our English FA CUP news section where we provide any news items that might have a significant effect on the matches being played - or sports betting in general.

English FA CUP News :: Pompey can break Big Four's grip on Cup

Posted on 2008-05-16 by Gooner

Portsmouth (8/11) will step out at Wembley on Saturday (May 17th) aiming to be the team which breaks grip held by the Big Four of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool on the FA Cup since Everton's triumph of 1995.

Their opponents Cardiff City (10/3) can become the first team outside the top flight to take the trophy since West Ham United in 1980. The Bluebirds are going for a second FA Cup after beating Arsenal 1-0 in 1927 - they are 8/1 to win by the same scoreline.

Harry Redknapp's Pompey, who have never played in European competition, also have a pre-war FA Cup to their name, having tamed Wolves with a 4-1 thrashing in 1939 - punters are being offered 33/1 on a repeat.

While their fellow finalists may be dreaming of place in the Uefa Cup, Cardiff boss Dave Jones signalled his intention to keep his team's feet on the ground, saying: "We're not even thinking about that. What we are thinking about is trying to beat a very good side. If we do that, the rest will follow."

The pride of the south coast are without danger man Jermaine Defoe who is cup tied having appeared earlier in the competition for Tottenham. Therefore the onus could be on an experienced strikeforce of Kanu, twice a winner with Arsenal and Milan Baros Golden Boot winner in the 2004 European Championships to be on target - the pair are 6/1 joint favourites to grab the opener in the second Cup final at the new Wembley.

England's up-and-comer David Nugent has failed to find form since a £6 million from Preston but is 8/1 to banish a bad season by giving Pompey the lead.

Cardiff could field a front line boasting three Cup final experiences between them - Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, 8/1 to be first on the score sheet and Robbie Fowler, 9/1 to net first, have both tasted defeat and will be keen to grab an opportunity late in their careers. If Fowler is declared unfit to start, young Paul Parry could be given the chance and is also 9/1 to send the Welsh wild with the first goal of the game.

Pompey have not scored in over five hours of football, ending their Premier League season with a dismal run of four defeats. However, led by the defensive duo of goalkeeper David James and centre back Sol Campbell, they have kept an impressive 16 clean sheets this season and are 8/1 to hold Cardiff to a score of 0-0 after 90 minutes.

James and Campbell look set to make starts after overcoming injuries. Campbell, reported to have been courted by Spanish club Villareal, is 25/1 to stun Wembley by making it 1-0 to Pompey in what could be his last game on English soil.

With six yellow cards and two sending offs this season, badboy Sulley Ali Muntari is 8/1 to take an early test of the new Wembley's bathing facilities by receiving the first red card in a Cup final since Jose Reyes for Arsenal in 2005.

So ... can Cardiff come away with the Cup?

All prices quoted are from Ladbrokes Sportsbook.