Chelsea v Portsmouth: mother nature does Michael Brown an FA Cup final favour

Luckily, nature was on his side and his wife gave birth a week ahead of schedule, meaning that he can take the field against Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday.Instead, he missed Sunday's defeat at Everton to attend the birth. Brown said: "When you get to 33 and you have never been to a final, you think time is running out and you might never experience it. So it means a hell of a lot to me to get there. Related ArticlesPortsmouth v Tottenham: previewPortsmouth v Chelsea: match previewWife does Brown a Cup final favourJohn Obi Mikel to miss FA Cup finalPortsmouth players save ground staff jobsSport on television"Those chances don't come long often. It felt like we had won something when we beat Tottenham in the semi-final, so we have had a fantastic day already, and maybe it felt like we had won."The only other time I had played at Wembley was in the old stadium in a play-off final, so it was nice to see the new one. I was wondering when that day was going to come.''Brown's career has been colourful. He was sent off after a two-footed challenge on Portsmouth midfielder, and former team-mate, Sean Davis when he was at Fulham, and Manchester United fans were incensed after a two-footed foul on Ryan Giggs in their 5-1 victory over Fulham in 2006. And three years ago, against Liverpool, he butted Xabi Alonso. The referee missed the incident but he was subsequently banned three games following video evidence."My style is never going to change,'' he added. "I am always ready to go into challenges 100 per cent committed, and that isn't going to change now at my age. "I got to two semi-finals with Sheffield United, but this is my first final, so fingers crossed I will stay fit and be out there battling on Saturday."We were very much outsiders against Tottenham, and when we saw the draw Spurs against Fulham I think we were all hoping Fulham would get through," Brown admitted. "But our game plan against Tottenham was good, we all worked together, and maybe that was what was missing a bit from some of our league games earlier in the season."We will have a game plan, and of course we might have to ride our luck a bit. But if we can limit their opportunities, I am sure we will carve out a couple of chances during the game." At 33, this may represent his last chance of a medal. He said: "I have never won anything in my career, so to win the FA Cup would be fantastic, the high point of my career. If Portsmouth do the unthinkable and win it, I think it will be one of the best things to happen, and bring the magic back to the FA Cup."

Source: Telegraph