Mogga: I Can Handle The Agony Of Kanu Goal

Apr 6 2008 By Billy Hannah

GUTTED Tony Mowbray last night refused to tag Milan Baros a cheat after the striker appeared to handle in the lead up to Kanu's winner.

The Baggies boss declined to be drawn on the second-half incident and insisted he didn't see Baros use his hand before Kanu fired in the rebound from the Czech star's shot.

Mowbray said: "It's not for me to say whether he handled the ball or not. He was pulled up a couple of times during the game for handball but I'm not in a position to question the validity of their goal.

"All I can say is I extend my congratulations to Portsmouth and wish them all the best in the final."

But Mogga (right) insists his side's performance in the 1-0 defeat at Wembley can help fire them on to win promotion to the Premiership.

A record-breaking semi-final crowd of 83,584 saw Mowbray's men pass Portsmouth off the park before top-flight Pompey got their act together in the second half. And Mowbray insisted: "Today was not a case of us rising to the occasion.

"People who watch us every week know we are capable of that type of performance. This proves we have the type of technically-gifted players who can hold their own in the Premiership.

"We can build on today and hopefully there is a pot of gold at the end of this season because I feel we have deserved it."

Rival boss Harry Redknapp, who said he will reward goal hero Kanu by extending his deal into next season, heaped praise on the Championship battlers.

He said: "They are a great passing team and are capable of making it in the Premiership."