FA Cup / Mike Norman / 14 May 2010 / 1

Everything points to a Chelsea victory in this year's FA Cup final says "Mystical" Mike Norman, though whether they win the easy way or the hard way is in the balance. Best Bet: Back Didier Drogba to score first at [4.5].

Barring Leeds United's exploits against a couple of the Premier League's big boys, this season's FA Cup has - not for the first time - been a dull affair in my eyes. Fans of Chelsea and Portsmouth will care little for what I think however, and they'll head to Wembley on Saturday, one set full of confidence, the other set full of hope.

I highlighted each club's 'Road to Wembley' earlier in the week, as well as drawing similarities between Pompey's Dunkirk-like achievement in getting here and Wimbledon's surprise success in 1988. But as this game nears kick-off a huge sense of reality has descended over me, and if I'm being completely honest with myself, then this game is surely at the mercy of Carlo Ancelotti's Premier League champions.

In the '90 minutes' Match Odds market Chelsea are available to back at [1.2], Portsmouth are huge underdogs at [17.0], whilst The Draw can be backed at [8.8].

In the lead-up to Portsmouth's semi-final against Tottenham I wrote about how laying Spurs was the percentage call, simply because Harry Redknapp's men had a habit of failing to beat teams in the bottom half of the Premier League - Hull, Wolves and Sunderland are just three teams that spring to mind. Unfortunately for Pompey fans, Chelsea didn't suffer from the same problem as the league season came to a conclusion; in fact, the Blues were quite brilliant in winning seven of their last eight, scoring a remarkable 33 goals in the process.

Already relegated Portsmouth weren't quite so prolific in their last eight league games however. Avram Grant's men managed just one victory, scored just six goals, and rather discouragingly, lost 5-0 at home to cup final opponents Chelsea.

It's going to take a monumental effort for Portsmouth to overturn the formbook and I wouldn't be surprised at all if deep down at heart, a few of the Pompey players are praying not to get another hiding, especially given Chelsea's savaging demolitions of Aston Villa and Wigan recently. They won't be saying it out loud, but surely it's just human nature to think like that.

Apart from long term absentees Michael Essien and Jose Bosingwa, Ancelotti is expected to have a close to full-strength squad to choose from - which includes John Terry - though John Obi Mikel is absent after undergoing minor surgery on a knee injury. Portsmouth's task hasn't been made any easier by having a bulging injury list. Jamie O'Hara - Pompey's player of the year - is a major doubt because of the double stress fracture in his back, whilst there are also doubts over Aruna Dindane (groin) and Kevin-Prince Boateng (ankle).

Chelsea will win this game and clinch their first ever league and cup double, that I have no doubt, but the manner in which they achieve the win is a little more difficult to predict. Will they come out all guns blazing and score an early goal? If you think they will then Chelsea/Chelsea - available to back at [1.64] - will definitely appeal to many in the Half Time/Full Time market. I'm going to go slightly against the grain however and hope that Pompey hold out until half time; so it's Draw/Chelsea ([5.2]) for me.

In the Correct Score market Any Unquoted (any team to score at least four) is the favourite at [3.5], but I prefer the 3-0 (to Chelsea) option today at [7.8]. The Wembley pitch is a huge, energy-sapping one (not least because of the terrible state it is in), and if Chelsea do go a few goals up I don't think they'll bust a gut to get a cricket score.

There is a Correct Score 2 market for this game if you do think Chelsea will score at least four but want to be more specific - 4-0 is available to back at [7.8] for example, with 5-0 and 6-0 being available at [19.0] and [36.0] respectively. Over 2.5 Goals will obviously appeal to you guys then, that option is available to back at just [1.62] today.

And finally it has to be Didier Drogba in the First Goalscorer market. Since the turn of the year, the Chelsea striker has scored 15 league goals in just 14 games as well as having a fine goalscoring record at Wembley - he has scored five times at the home of English football. He will be available to back at around [4.5] once the First Goalscorer market materialises and should give us an excellent run for our money.

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1. Lewis | 15 May 2010

   Great preview of the match thanks. Chelsea to win 4-0 for me with drogba to score first.

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