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Ten reasons Cardiff will win the FA Cup
In an early episode of the League of Gentlemen, demented old bag Tubbs Tattsyrup (favourite food: worms) retires to a cave with a road map of Britain. The map comes from the belongings of yet another unfortunate traveller she has done in with her brother/husband Edward, and as she flicks through the pages of this strange document, enjoying a hair sandwich, she suddenly stops and announces in wonder, "There is a Swansea!"
This weekend, all those millions of foreigners in their Canadas and their Thailands who have become addicted to Premier League football, with a particular weakness for regular Big Four action, will discover that there is also a Cardiff. They will find that football grown in a less financially privileged environment is so ugly as to be barely watchable. And they will also discover a need for powerful dictionaries to help them interpret all the guff about plucky underdogs and "the romance of the Cup".
Although the Wager generally has little time for underdogs – we like winners! – all our cash is going on a Welsh win.
Think we're mental for liking the Bluebirds? Or traitors? Then get on 'arry's Pompey!
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Portsmouth
Last six: LLLLDW
Injuries: Primus (knee)
Unavailable: Defoe (cup-tied)
Cardiff
Last six: WDLLWD
Injuries: Fowler (hip, doubtful)
Unavailable: None
Ten reasons why Cardiff will win the FA Cup:
1. Portsmouth have gone five games without a win.
2. Cardiff, who had less to play for in the league, lost just two of their last six.
3. chickendinner superfact: Cardiff won their final game 3-0 - the last four teams to score three or more in their final league game before the Cup Final have gone on to win (Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United).
4. Cardiff have been more prolific in this season's FA Cup, scoring ten in five games, than Portsmouth - six in five.
5. Portsmouth have only scored two in their last six league games, compared to Cardiff's twelve.
6. With Benjani sold and Jermain Defoe cup-tied, Portsmouth's top-scorer of the available players, Kanu, has only scored five goals all season.
7. Premier League teams have had the better of Championship sides in Rounds Three, Five and the semis, while Championship sides have edged Rounds Four and Six. It's the Championship's turn to come out on top.
8. The two previous big Wembley games this season - Community Shield and League Cup Final - have been won by the team travelling further.
9. Portsmouth have lost two of their three previous FA Cup finals and despite five previous semi-final appearances have only gone on to win once.
10. Cardiff have the better of past cup ties with Portsmouth, winning three times to Portsmouth’s two.
FA Cup Final, best odds
