Key events
Preamble
In 2008, Portsmouth won the FA Cup; in 2010, they were relegated from the Premier League.
These things were connected: European qualification cost the club a load in bonuses, players were sold, and the owner, not necessarily the kind of bloke you’d want owning your football club, ceased funding it, after which followed 15 largely miserable years. Pompey now sit fourth-bottom of the Championship.
I’d be amazed, though, if there’s a single fan not comfortable with these consequences. Of course, they’d like things to be different, but they’ll be reliving about that day at Wembley and the consequent European campaign until the day they die; it’s worth a lot more than a few more top-division, mid-table finishes. Football is about sharing moments and days with people you love, and no competition has been delivering them for longer nor with greater intensity than the FA Cup.
Pompey will, though, have to find something major to get a result today. Last time out, they were clattered 5-0 at Bristol City, while Arsenal, the country’s top team, can rest every midweek starter and still select an intimidatingly good XI. If they play well today, it won’t be close but, on the other hand, Fratton Park is designed to make that as difficult as possible and, if the home side can start well, you never know.
Kick-off: 2pm GMT
