Pompey paupers set up fairytale final

A BANNER high in the stands at the Portsmouth end of the stadium proclaimed ‘Avram Grant: Spirit of Pompey’.

After this stunning game, the Israeli may even be able to contemplate God-like status in certain areas of the south coast of England.

The FA Cup has never been short of unlikely triumphs, but this must rank as one of the most extraordinary of any era. Portsmouth have been a basket case all season, passed through the hands of a succession of owners, none of whom were able to halt the financial implosion that has left the club in the hands of the administrator.

Their destiny all year has apparently been disappointment, and their descent into the Championship was confirmed when Burnley beat Hull just 24 hours before they came into this game. Grant admitted afterwards “we could write a book about the things that have happened this season”. That book now will at least have something resembling a happy ending.

Having defied Tottenham’s best efforts for 90 minutes, helped by an inspired display from keeper David James, a large slice of good fortune, and generous help from the referee Alan Wiley, Portsmouth secured victory in extra time.

Again, luck was on their side, this time when Tottenham defender Michael Dawson slipped on the awful Wembley service as he attempted to clear Kevin-Prince Boateng’s nod down and Frederic Piquionne finished past Heurelho Gomes from close range.

After the season they have had, however, no one would begrudge Grant and his players some luck.

Tottenham were clearly stunned as it dawned on them that a place in the final against Chelsea might yet slip from their grasp. They were then left shattered when Arune Dindane escaped in the 126th minute and was brought down by Wilson Palacios, allowing Boateng to finish from the spot.

Harry Redknapp’s side had every reason to question why they had an apparently good second-half goal ruled out. But in reality they had only themselves to blame for their failure to take chances that came their way.

The way Spurs approached the game suggested a different outcome and that Redknapp’s side were destined to complete the victory that had been almost universally predicted beforehand.

Their greater attacking strength was quickly apparent with David Bentley’s excellent delivery from the right hand flank creating a number of openings for Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe, Redknapp’s preferred forward pairing.

Two early Bentley corners brought about chances for both strikers but the way Portsmouth cleared their lines gave a clue as to the pattern this game would follow, with Defoe denied by Hassan Yebda’s block while Crouch’s header was well saved by David James.

James was always likely to play a significant role in this game and it soon became clear the England keeper was likely to enjoy one of his more inspired days, although his capacity to produce a heart-stopping blunder surfaced in the second half when he flapped at another Bentley corner and was fortunate to see Crouch head wide.

And as long as Portsmouth’s goal remained intact, there was always the possibility Avram Grant’s side could capitalise on one of a series of intermittent chances they managed to carve out at the other end.

Redknapp made his first change midway through the second half, introducing Roman Pavlyuchenko for Jermain Defoe, with the tall Russian lining up alongside Crouch providing a clear indication of how the Spurs manager felt his side could best break down Portsmouth’s stubborn resistance.

The strategy, however, was dependent on the two strikers receiving decent service and that was exactly where the plan faltered.

Gareth Bale worked a number of good openings on the left hand flank yet too often struck his attempted cross into the first defender. It was a similar story on the right where Bentley faded before being replaced by Niko Krancjar to little effect.

Spurs continued to falter and as they did, so Pompey’s confidence grew. And if there is one commodity Grant has maintained at Fratton Park, it has been belief.

Yesterday was a day to believe.

MATCH RATING: *** As romantic as the outcome was, this was no classic and there would hardly have been a murmur of dissent if the game was decided in normal time.

REFEREE: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire) 2/10: Missed a clear handball inside the Portsmouth box and incorrectly disallowed a would-be equaliser.