Though an FA Cup final betting contest between Portsmouth and Cardiff may lack the glamour of last year’s clash between Chelsea and Manchester United, it provides a welcome break from domination by the Premiership’s elite. One of the ‘Big Four’ clubs – Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Man Utd – had featured in every final since 1991, but the giant-killings at this year’s quarter-final stage sent the big guns crashing out. The competition has always been synonymous with classic ‘David & Goliath’ encounters, so this unlikely final is in keeping with the FA Cup’s best traditions.
Pompey Enjoying Record Breaking Season
Neither of this year’s finalists have any recent FA Cup pedigree. Pompey’s sole success was in 1939, with their best recent effort back in 1992 when losing out in the semi-finals on penalties to Liverpool. Portsmouth’s performance in this competence reflects their Premier League form, where they are set to gain their best ever Premiership finish, having broken their record points tally. Harry Redknapp has maintained his reputation for wheeler-dealing, forging a multinational squad from a dozen countries into a force to be reckoned with. Pompey are worthy favourites on PinnacleSports.com’s FA Cup betting market, especially if they can repeat their quarter-final performance at Old Trafford in the last eight, when they beat United 1-0. The glory of winning the famous trophy should be motivation enough, but the European qualification that comes with it, is important to the ambitions of the South Coast side.
Bluebirds Flying the Flag for Wales
Cardiff are the only team to have taken the FA Cup out of England, giving Wales its sole success back in 1927. The Bluebirds are notorious for their hardcore supporters who could help bridge the obvious gap in class that exists between the sides from different levels of the English football hierarchy. David Jones’ side are not out of the battle in the Championship for a play-off place, but it will be hard to block out the distraction of completing an FA Cup fairytale. West Ham back in 1980 were the last side from a lower division to overcome the under-dog tag, with just two teams from out of the top flight reaching the final since – Sunderland losing 2-0 to Liverpool in 1992, and Millwall 3-0 to Man Utd in 2004. Several of Cardiff’s squad do however possess Premiership experience, the most obvious being Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbank, who could cap an illustrious career, and make up for disappointment of an FA Cup defeat with Chelsea in 2002.
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