West Brom 0-1 Portsmouth

Apr 6 2008 Billy Hannah At Wembley

Now 'Arry Can Walk The Walk To Final Glory

IT was hardly the most inspiring pre-match team talk in history. But it seemed to work.

Mr Motivator Harry Redknapp admitted he gathered his Portsmouth stars around him and told them: "You have to win this semi. I need the dosh so I can bring in some decent players!"

Play up Pompey? More like playing down your squad. But if Redknapp's psycho babble was a gamble to fire up his men it paid off as Kanu fired a 56th-minute winner to earn his side a final slot.

And Arry's mind was still on a gamble after the dust had settled.

He stuck the blinkers on and rushed straight to the team bus to place a phone bet on the Grand National.

Redknapp said: "All I've thought about this week is this game. I haven't looked at the runners or a paper.

"But I'll tell you one thing - if I can get to the team bus quick enough then I'll be putting a bet on."

There were claims Milan Baros had handled in the lead-up to Kanu's clincher but Redknapp said: "It never crossed my mind it was handball.

"I didn't see it and I may be wrong but no one mentioned handball to me."

Bizarre team talk apart, Harry called in some wacky technology to give his stars the edge - decking them out in special vests designed to increase oxygen flow.

Forget the fancy vests, though, the way his troops played in the first half they looked more in need of oxygen masks.

In contrast Tony Mowbray's Championship underdogs were pumped up from the off. Mogga's Baggies had blitzed a glory trail to Wembley as the highest scorers in the tournament with 16 goals.

It was ironic then that the only thing they couldn't do right yesterday was hit the net. Former Celt Mowbray had already tasted two Scottish Cup semi-final defeats as Hibs boss - and he was counting on on-loan Hearts striker Roman Bednar to get him through this one.

But it was strike partner Kevin Phillips who tested David James with a 25-yard scorcher in four minutes that seared over the top.

Two minutes later Pompey fans were hanging the old Calamity James tag around their keeper's neck when he dropped a 20-yard effort from Zoltan Gera and skipper Sol Campbell scooped the ball desperately away.

Taking Portsmouth's scalp would ensure an all-Championship final and set the seal on the Season of Giantkillers. And at this stage Pompey were floundering.

Baggies skipper Jonathan Greening and Slovenian midfielder Robert Koren were running the show for Mowbray's men.

Pompey's strikers Kanu and Baros were forced to feed off scraps and the Czech was caught offside so often the stand side linesman suffered repetitive strain injury.

In fact, if Arry was a betting man he'd swear the same flagman had a wedge on the Baggies because he even managed to rule against Baros when he was in his own half.

The frustrated striker earned a booking after he took the ball down with his hand. A sign of things to come, maybe.

Pompey's patient fans got their reward nine minutes into the second half thanks to Kanu's controversial strike.

Glen Johnson's long cross from the right was collected by Baros who appeared to use a mitt before getting his shot away from six yards.

West Brom keeper Dean Kiely could only parry across goal and Kanu was there to slide it home.

Suddenly Mowbray was reeling and hooked Bednar for Ismael Miller while also bringing on Chris Brunt for James Morrison.

But it was Portsmouth who should have gone 2-0 up after Icelandic star Hermann Hreidarsson sent Baros free with a slide-rule pass. The Czech should have scored but Kiely dived bravely at his feet to claw the ball away.

West Brom were so unlucky not to bag the leveller in 72 minutes with a 30-yard pile driver from Koren that clipped the bar.

Then Miller sent in a tempting cross from the left that was held by James. However, Pompey sub David Nugent soon forced another terrific save from veteran keeper Kiely as he burst into the box.

Baggies swept back up the field and sub Miller should have forced extra time but missed a glorious chance from five yards after a superb cross from Carl Hoefkens.

It wasn't to be for Mogga's heroes and when the race for the final was over Pompey had won it by a nose.

What's the betting Harry took the bookies to the cleaners too?