lookupsport

Well time has prevented me from crowing about the fact that Pompey are now in the FA Cup final.  Well time and a sense of disbelief I suppose.

I ventured to bet £10 each way on them winning the Cup back in January and got odds of 10/1. (interestingly you can actually bet each way, in which case they only have to reach the final so ching ching already).  I hasten to add that I made that bet before the quarter final draw in the hope they would miss Manchester United and Chelsea, who were the only big clubs left.  As luck would have it, they drew Man U, and to be honest I gave up on the dream.  But the glory of the cup is the glory of the cup I guess and Pompey got through by the skin of their teeth.

Then came the semi-final with Donkey Adams, putting forward the theory that our name is on the cup.  A jinx if ever I heard one. And so it looked against West Brom on Saturday.

The whole team looked as though the pressure of the day and of being favourites was going to prove too much.  For 45 minutes at least, dire was the best word to describe it as they failed to string more than 3 passes together.  Against, a better side the game might have been over at half time.

The second half saw an early goal (which was gifted really, and had a hint of hand ball - so maybe Adams is right), and they looked a much better side, and could have won by a couple despite the Baggies hitting the bar. So they have made it and will face the Taffs, although I think they will have to play a lot better to lift the cup.  Let’s hope that they have got rid of the nerves and play with a little more freedom and confidence.

Elsewhere, in the Premiership, the bottom of the league looks to be resolving itself.  Derby down, Fulham to join them probably and Bolton’s rotten run of form showing no signs of reversing itself.  Stranger things have happened though as Pompey fans and Harry Redknapp know only too well. The good news is that Sunderland look to be safe although sadly Newcastle are as well.  How funny would it have been to see them relegated with Special K at the helm.

At the other end its still all to play for - at least if you are Chelski or Manchester United that is.  It looks like being the most exciting finish to the Premiership in years, and my money is still on Chelsea as it has been all season.