Portsmouth Achieve FA Cup Glory

Portsmouth FC won the 2008 FA Cup today, after going on a 5 match winless streak to close out the Premiership season. The 1-0 win over Championship side Cardiff City brings the club its first FA Cup in 69 years and takes them on the European adventure next season. Looks like a brilliant moment for the team and its manager, Harry Redknapp.

Hey, this works for me! I mean I enjoy David and Goliath episodes as much as the next guy (I'm a Fulham fan), but wasn't this always going to be the case irrespective of the result? It would have been a great day for Cardiff City and the whole of the lower leagues if they had nicked it, but in my mind Portsmouth pulled off something just as significant for themselves. 

Portsmouth are a quality side, don't get me wrong. Any team that could qualify for Europe based on record (even though they didn't in the end) is a good one. But next to the Big 4, they are guppies indeed. It's a downright remarkable run for a squad that has maybe outperformed themselves this season, and their recent drop in form might be an indicator of this sentiment. 

So, I hope it goes without saying that I'm really proud of Portsmouth for what they have accomplished. They may not do it again next season, but they have built a strong organization. I'm interested to see how they do in the UEFA Cup, too. I think they must have pick up a little of the Faith that was oozing out of my Whites last weekend. That stuff is contagious even when you are up against it.