Pompey bag Baggies in cup semi-final

Pa Sport
Monday 10 March 2008 10:29 EDT
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Premier League Portsmouth will take on Championship promotion contenders West Bromwich Albion in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Pompey are the only top flight side left in the competition after a weekend of shocks in the quarter-finals.

Barnsley, conquerors of Liverpool and Chelsea in the past two rounds, take on fellow Championship outfit Cardiff.

Both matches will take place at Wembley on the weekend of 5 and 6 April 5.

Portsmouth, who have won the FA Cup once in their history, in 1939, were made favourites for the competition after surprising Premier League champions Manchester United on Saturday.

The Baggies have won the cup five times but not since 1968.

Barnsley, who are struggling in the bottom half of the Championship, are making their first appearance in the last four since 1912.

Welsh side Cardiff, for whom the cup run is a welcome distraction from financial problems, won the cup in 1927.

The semi-final line-up ensures a first winner from outside the game's current 'big four' of Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea since 1995.

Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie was pleased with the outcome despite drawing the highest-placed of the other three teams.

Storrie told Sky Sports News: "We've got to be beat two of the three semi-finalists to win the cup so we have to take it as it comes. After Manchester United we can't fear anybody.

"It is unusual. On Saturday morning we were driving to Old Trafford thinking it was going to be the Alamo. Now we are 5-4 favourites - it's a funny old game, football.

"I have been in the game 20 years and this is one of the greatest results of my career.

"It was a good performance from the team and it is still pretty hard to take in."

Storrie also had words of praise for manager Harry Redknapp, who was tempted to move to Newcastle in January but opted to stay at Fratton Park.

He added: "I think Harry had an opportunity to go to a big club. He always wanted that chance but felt a lot was still to happen from us.

"If we can go on and win the FA Cup it will be a great testimony to his decision."

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