Portsmouth Football Club News

• Nickname:Pompey
• Founded:1898
• Manager:Michael Appleton

• Ground:Fratton Park
• Capacity:19,179

Harry full of James praise

18 Feb 2008 - 07:09:15

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Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp paid tribute to David James after the veteran goalkeeper's heroics helped secure a 1-0 FA Cup fifth round victory over Preston North End.

The England number one was in inspirational form at Deepdale on Sunday as he kept the Championship club at bay with a string of second-half saves.

James also saved a second-half penalty from Simon Whaley, before Pompey squeezed into the hat for the quarter-finals courtesy of a stoppage-time own goal from Darren Carter.

"When they got the penalty you're quietly confident he's going to save it, he's that good," said Redknapp.

"You wouldn't want anybody else in the goal at that time.

"I thought whoever is taking it is going to be looking at David James and thinking they've got a job on their hands to beat him and that's how it turned out. He's fantastic."

Meanwhile, Redknapp praised the performance of Preston after they pushed his side all the way in an entertaining cup tie.

"To be honest, at that stage of the game I was looking for the whistle and to get them back to Fratton Park for a replay because they played ever so well," he continued.

"They worked hard, they passed it, they were full of running. They put in a really good performance and they really didn't deserve to lose that game but that's football.

"We had that good spell before half-time because we kept the ball better.

"We passed the ball, that was the key, then we started the second half and we didn't get hold of it.

"If Preston played like that every week they wouldn't be in a relegation battle."