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Portsmouth v Cardiff - FA Cup Final Sat 17th May
It makes a change to see some new faces at the FA cup.
Portsmouth v Cardiff FA CUP FINAL
Venue: Wembley Stadium Date: Saturday, 17 May Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: LIVE on BBC One, BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live, BBC Radio Solent, BBC Radio Wales, Score on BBCi; highlights on Match of the Day.
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Portsmouth or Cardiff will end long waits for a second FA Cup win when they meet in Saturday's final at Wembley.
Pompey's victory came in 1939, while Cardiff became the only non-English side to lift the trophy in 1927.
Cardiff boss Dave Jones said: "Maybe, over the last few years, the FA Cup has lost a little bit of magic because it's been the same teams (in the final).
"But Portsmouth and ourselves have broken the mould this season - we want to make our own history."
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, 61, has never previously reached an FA Cup final in a career as a player and manager spanning over 40 years.
Redknapp hopes to end a successful season with silverware
"It's great for everyone at the club," he said.
"I look at where we were two years ago (almost relegated from the Premier League), or five years ago, when we were near the bottom of the Championship and now we are in the Cup final."
A Pompey win will provide a memorable end to the season for Redknapp, who was arrested and bailed in November as part of a police investigation into football corruption. He vehemently denies any wrongdoing and last month began legal action over his arrest.
Cardiff's rollercoaster campaign has seen them survive a potentially ruinous bid by Swiss investment bank Langston to force the club to repay £24m in loans.
606: DEBATE Anyone brave enough to make a prediction for tomorrow? Like Pompey, they are planning to build a new stadium - a scheme that could only be boosted by winning the FA Cup which guarantees entry into the Uefa Cup.
"We're not even thinking about that," said Jones. "What we are thinking about is trying to beat a very good side. If we do that, the rest will follow." If Portsmouth win, they will be the first team other than Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United or Liverpool to triumph in the final since 1995.
Victory for the Bluebirds will be a first for a club from outside the top flight since 1980, when West Ham of the old Second Division beat Arsenal 1-0.
Reaching the Cup final is a dream - Dave Jones
Pompey are favourites, however, especially with experienced campaigners Sol Campbell and David James set to play after shaking off injuries.
Strikers David Nugent and Kanu should overcome niggles to boost Pompey who are without the cup-tied Jermain Defoe.
Cardiff's Robbie Fowler has not played for five months since hip surgery, but the ex-England striker will have a late fitness test.
Paul Parry is set to continue up-front alongside veteran Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
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May 16, 2008 at 08:41 pm by agdobson, 304 views, add comment


