Preview: Portsmouth and Cardiff Break Mold

• Reuters, Friday, May 16, 2008 3:45 PM

For the first time since 1991, that none of  England's "big four" -- Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal -- reached the English FA Cup final, which will be contested by Portsmouth and Cardiff City (second division) on Saturday (TV: Setanta pay-per-view, live, 10 am ET).

You have to go all the way back to 1927 to find the last time Cardiff made the final. That was the year Cardiff became the only non-English club to win the Cup in what was its last appearance in the final until this season. "Portsmouth and ourselves have broken the mold this season," says Cardiff manager Dave Jones, "and I don't think that will happen again for a long, long time."

Portsmouth must go back to 1939 for its only success. For Pompey manager Harry Redknapp, who has never made a Wembley final in more than 40 years as a coach and player, it is an overdue reward for a lifetime's dedication to the game. "It's great for everyone at the club," he said. "I look at where we were two years ago [almost relegated from the Premier League)] or five years ago when we were near the bottom of the Championship and now we are in the Cup final."

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