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FA Cup betting: Goliath-like effort needed to beat David

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Richard Walker thinks the international class and experience of Portsmouth's players should prove too much for West Brom at Wembley but what are the best bets on offer?

It's funny because, as a kid, I always remembered my old man talking about the underdog. "They're just happy to be there boy, they'll freeze come kick-off". West Bromwich Albion at the new Wembley, anyone?

And yet we're talking about a semi-final here, not the final. Not that my view is worth tuppence, but only the final should be at Wembley. Frankly, there are enough great stadia in our country now.

Why not the magnificent Millennium, as a thank you for all those superbly-hosted finals? Oh no, it was happily dumped by the FA and Football League. Pompey and Baggies' fans will descend on north-west London because the FA needs to recoup its losses and every penny counts - even the penny belonging to the less fashionable fan who'll be enjoying the facilities for this tie.

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray made a pertinent point this week, which he's hoping will affect his side. He contended that by all four sides playing there in the semis, the final would likely be a better game with less chance of players being overawed.

Which brings me back to my opening gambit from dear old Dad. Mowbray's said it, perhaps sub-consciously, about his own lot. Inexperienced they aren't but do they have seasoned internationals like David James, Sol Campbell, Niko Kranjcar, Milan Baros etc.? No - and I think that'll be the determining factor on a tense Saturday lunchtime.

And I can see Harry Redknapp's side winning the game without conceding. Yes I know Albion are potent in attack. But that's cutting through Championship defences. With James in goal behind a settled back four, Portsmouth won't be shipping too many (none for my money!) come the weekend.

If you agree with me, Pompey are [1.87] to win the match and around [2.72] to keep a clean sheet. Both will be in my armoury. If you're a confirmed layer of bets, the Black Country side are [4.7] to lay.

Having decided that West Brom are going to score nil, I'm less certain how many Pompey will pop in at the other end therefore am not strongly swayed to involve myself in the Overs and Unders wagering. You might be, however, so as an example, the Over/Under 2.5 goals market sees Overs at [2.02] and Unders at [1.94] - take your pick!

Unlike some other Betfair columnists and bloggers, I don't overdose on science or statistics before penning my thoughts. Sure, if a side's gone six without conceding that warrants attention but not such other trends as Player X always does well against Team Y. I'm more a gut-feel kind of operator.

And I'm not about to change now, so let's crack on with the options available. If you feel the Albion can do it, they're about [4.6] to back with the draw priced at [3.75]. Sorry but I can't see that scenario however an early goal - most likely from Kevin Phillips - and they might quickly warm to the task. Even were that to happen, Portsmouth have the class to recover.

Let's not forget that West Brom are near the top of that division no one wants to win: the Championship. Near the top, I reiterate, for in a season with no outstanding side emerging from the second tier, the so-called artisans of the division can't keep a clean sheet for love nor money - not a recipe for success against a side who might not be free-scoring but, even without Jermain Defoe, have the ammunition to shoot through WBA's flimsy defences.

Two-nil to Pompey, backable at around [10.5], looks particularly appealing to me, with 1-0 at [8.4] and 3-0 at [21.0] my idea of good cover options. As for First Goal Odds, I think a cagey-ish opening might lead to the 31-40 Minutes window, at a price of [7.2] to back. Remember that all prices quoted here apply solely to the 90 minutes.