FA Cup Final Betting

Chelsea vs Portsmouth betting preview

Crowned the new Premier League Champions after a three year exile, now Chelsea are on the verge of creating club history; by completing a famous league and cup double. After securing the title with an emphatic 8-0 win over Wigan Athletic on Sunday, the Blues can scoop a second piece of silverware in as many weeks if they defeat relegated Portsmouth in the FA Cup Final. The Wembley showdown pairs the current FA Cup holders Chelsea, with 2006 winners Pompey but unsurprisingly the former are massive odds on favourites to lift the trophy again this year. Chelsea’s odds are trading from 1/10 to 1/7 but Paddy Power offer slightly better figures at 2/9, Pompey are listed at 12/1 and if extra time is required the draw pays out at 6/1 with Bet 365.

The West Londoners began the road to Wembley with a 5-0 thrashing of Championship side Watford and Preston soon followed suit but this time by a more respectable 2-0 score line at Deepdale. Another Championship outfit provided the opposition in the fifth round, when Cardiff City became the only team so far to breach the Chelsea rearguard but it wasn’t enough to prevent a 4-1 victory. Stoke City and Aston Villa both fell victim to Stamford Bridge defeats in the quarter and semi final stages respectively. One banner at Stamford Bridge on Sunday declared that Ancelotti was ‘more than special’ and while he might need to win the Champions League to prove that to himself, winning the FA Cup is another step in the right direction.

Porstmouth boss Avram Grant, who guided Chelsea to the Champions League final in 2008, praised his former club after clinching the title but the Israeli firmly believes cash-strapped Pompey’s journey to the FA Cup final should go down as the story of the season. The South coast club’s cup campaign began with a replay win over Coventry City in round three, they saw off Sunderland 2-1 at Fratton Park in the next before a fine 4-1 away win at local rivals Southampton. The quarter finals paired them with Birmingham who they accounted for 2-0, and this would prove to be the same score line in extra time victory over Tottenham in the semi final. But will the final be a test to far for Pompey?

Chelsea completed the double over Portsmouth in the Premier League this season, although it took a penalty ten minutes from time to secure a 2-1 success at Stamford Bridge in December. It was far more comfortable in the reverse fixture at Fratton Park in March, where they romped home 5-0 winners thanks to Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba braces. The latter is 5/2 favourite with Betfred to score first at Wembley and add to his 36 goals in all competitions this term. Frank Lampard became the first midfielder to score more than 20 goals this season and he looks a steady bet at 4/1 to score past England compatriot David James. Choose from over £500 in free bets from leading UK bookmakers.

It’s been a season of goals galore for Chelsea this season as they broke the one hundred barrier in the league beating Manchester United’s record in the process. The Blues finished the season with +71 goal difference and scored more than 7 goals in four league games this season. So expect a capacity Wembley crowd to witness goals on Sunday. Remarkably, Carlo’s men are as short as 9/2 to score over 4.5 goals while a repeat of the 8-0 thrashing of Wigan is as low as 50/1 with some bookmakers. While this seems very unlikely expect Chelsea to win by a convincing margin, take up the Chelsea to win to nil at a creditable 4/6 with Paddy Power. The Irish bookies will also refund all losing 1st/last goalscorer, correct score or scorecast singles on the match if Frank Lampard scores the last goal in 90 minutes, The England midfielder will be on penalty duties once again so this bet might prove popular.

Owners have come and gone, and while it has been a season of woes off and on the field the Pompey faithful will be hoping their players can upset the odds and pull off a great Wembley shock. Championship football may beckon but will they have the last laugh, surely not?

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