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Gradually over the past week, fans’ attention has switched from the financial crisis – somehow that description doesn’t seem strong enough any longer – enveloping the club to the game – the biggest of the season, probably.
Fratton Park is a sell-out and all the signs are that there will be a special atmosphere for the Saturday lunchtime tussle, which comes just 79 hours before the teams meet again in the league in a game which, if you believe Pompey are already down and Birmingham are already safe, will mean much less.
League struggles have been one thing this season, but Pompey’s form, and their resilience, in the cup has been as strong as anything.
They came from behind twice over two games against Coventry in round three, did the same in the fourth round against Sunderland, then rode a little luck before demolishing Southampton in the last 16.
Birmingham’s route to this point has been entirely away from St Andrews, with a fourth-round win at Everton their most impressive success to date.
City started the season as many people’s favourites for relegation but they have spent longer in the top half of the table than in the bottom, and were above Liverpool for a few weeks pre-Christmas.
On paper it’s a tough one to call. Even some at the Birmingham end reckon Pompey are more likely winners of the cup tie, even if Alex McLeish’s men appear more than capable of sending Pompey closer to the Championship in Tuesday’s follow-up.
If they can do it, what an achievement it would be for hero-of-the-moment Avram Grant.
The relationship which has blossomed between Grant and the Fratton fans over the past weeks has been remarkable. If he were to win the right to lead the Blues out at
Wembley, in what would be their fourth visit to the stadium in two years, it would surely become a full-blown love affair.
Grant is excited by the last-eight tie and admits it would be quite something if Pompey could win it.
He said: ‘I'm very happy with the fans and the players. These people deserve more. I never get tired of saying that this is a game of passion, this is a game of emotions. This is not just a game of taking money from here and putting it here.
‘Of course money is important, but with money alone, you will not succeed as a team. So I try to put myself on the sidelines and remember when I was a child and supported my team. These supporters deserve someone who will fight for them and we are trying.’
David James, one of the few left in the squad from the one who triumphed at Wembley just 22 months ago, feels it would be as a big an achievement as anything in his career if Pompey could get to the semi-final and then the final again.
‘It would be right up there with the best achievements of my career – if not the best,’ said James, likely to be joined in the starting line-up by two other players from the 2008 run, Hermann Hreidarsson and Papa Bouba Diop. Kanu - don't forget Kanu - will be on the bench ready to deliver another sprinkle of Cup magic if needed.
McLeish knows Birmingham face a real battle, saying: ‘They have a siege mentality just now and it is a very dangerous game for us.’
Team news is that Pompey will be without suspended Portugese defender Ricardo Rocha following his red card against Burnley last week, but Tal Ben Haim may replace him alongside Hrediarsson following groin surgery.
Jamie O’Hara is a slight doubt with a sore back, and Quincy Owusu-Abeyie could be rished back into the side after injury, with memories of his influence on the win at St Mary’s still fresh in the memory.
Birmingham will make a late check on the fitness of striker James McFadden, who suffered a groin injury in the win over Wigan.
The game will be preceded by a minute’s applause in memory of the Macclesfield manager Keith Alexander, who died this week aged just 53.
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