Source: FOOTYMAD
Portsmouth vs Birmingham Preview
Cup of hope and glory... Pompey are just one win away from a fourth trip to Wembley in two years if they can overcome this season's surprise package in Birmingham City.Team NewsJamie O'Hara is struggling for fitness ahead of the game with a back injury but Quincy Owusu-Abeyie could make a surprise return despite being injured at Burnley.One player who will definitely miss out is Ricardo Rocha after seeing red at Turf Moor, meaning Marc Wilson could return to centre back after impressing as a defensive midfielder last week.Birmingham could miss James McFadden through injury, meaning Christian Benitez could partner Cameron Jerome at the back. Roger Johnson, a losing FA Cup finalist with Cardiff in 2008, should partner Scott Dann at the back of what has been a rock solid defence for Alex McLeish's side.The MatchYesterday I was watching highlights of our FA Cup run from 2008, from Carter's last minute own goal at Preston to Muntari's penalty at Old Trafford to Kanu's toe poke against Cardiff at Wembley.It sent a tingle down my spine remembering these moments and it reminded me just how great involved with that cup run and to be lucky enough to see Pompey play at the national stadium twice in two months.And yet despite how awfully terrible this season has been, we are just one win away from another trip to Wembley and just three away from lifting the trophy again.Yes, I know I'm getting ahead of myself, but I haven't been this excited about a game since, well, the FA Cup Final of 2008. The spine is tingling again and I think we have a good chance of another Wembley appearance.Not that tomorrow's game is going to be easy, far from it in fact. Birmingham aren't 8th in the Premier League for nothing and the pressure is also off of them as they aren't going down but they aren't going to qualify for Europe via the league either. They remind me a lot of our FA Cup winning side; they don't have much up front but they have a midfield that works well together along with a rock solid defence which is marshalled by an oustanding English goalkeeper.They've also navigated a host of tricky away games in the FA Cup, most notably a trip to Everton although they needed a replay to dipose of Nottingham Forest and a late winner to get past Derby at Pride Park.Despite a recent 15 game unbeaten run, the Brummies are beatable and there are worse teams we could have drawn. With home advantage, no pressure and a sell-out crowd behind the team there is no reason why we can't book a trip to Wembley.Let's face it, the rest of the league season is going to be awful. We're relegated and have nothing to play for but pride so defeat tomorrow will kill Pompey's season dead. The doom and gloom will set in until the administrator can get us out of this mess, which is going to be a long time filled with misery.So, in a nutshell, this game is our entire season! An FA Cup semi-final would be just reward for the hell our fans have had to put up with for the last year or so.Play Up Pompey!Predicted Starting Line-UpsPompeyGK: David JAMESRB: Steve FINNANCB: Marc WILSONCB: Hermann HREIDARSSONLB: Nadir BELHADJDM: Michael BROWNCM: Hassan YEBDACM: Papa BOUBA DIOPRWF: John UTAKALWF: Quincy OWUSU-ABEYIECF: Frederic PIQUIONNEBirminghamGK: Joe HARTRB: Stephen CARRCB: Roger JOHNSONCB: Scott DANNLB: Liam RIDGEWELLRM: Sebastien LARSSONCM: Lee BOWYERCM: Keith FAHEYLM: Barry FERGUSONCF: Christian BENITEZCF: Cameron JEROMEPundit WatchLawro: Home Win (2-0)Soccernet: Away WinMy Prediction: I doubt we'll keep a clean sheet but I think we have enough to edge this game if our forwards combine as well as they did last week. I have a horrid feeling that Kevin Phillips will have a say on the outcome of this match, but I have a greater feeling that it's going to be our day.Portsmouth 2 Birmingham City 1
