FA Cup / Andrew French / 10 March 2008 /

Andrew French tells us his most scientific methods to pick which team to back for FA Cup glory. Give your pet dog a bone for each club and back whichever he decides to chew...

Do you remember the 1971 comedy classic, Carry On At Your Convenience?

Sid Plummer, played by comedy legend Sid James, is involved in a lovely little sub-plot where he discovers that if he reads the runners in a horse race to his wife's pet budgie Joey, the bird can indicate what will win the race.

With this season's FA Cup following a plot as unlikely as any Carry On film, perhaps it's time to read the remaining four teams' names to pet birds you may have, in a quest to find the team that will come out on top. Maybe give your pet dog one bone for each club and then back whichever he decides to chew. Or even divide your cat's litter tray into four quarters and see if your feline friend leaves you any indication.

In short, form books, probabilities and other more scientific methods really are a waste of time this season.

It's been 100 years since we had three of the four FA Cup semi-finalists from outside the top division. Current form? Well, West Brom are the only team still standing to have won the competition since the Second World War. Quite.

The last time a side from outside the top flight won the FA Cup was in 1980, when West Ham beat Arsenal 1-0. The scorer of the only goal that day, Sir Trevor Brooking, now has a key role at the FA and will be working hard to tell us all that this is what the magic and romance of the cup is all about.

However, for some it is going to be hard to get excited about a competition where Portsmouth are the hot favourites. You can back Pompey at [2.04] - they were matched for decent amounts at [40.0] earlier in the competition.

There are many people suggesting the South Coast club have their name on the trophy this year: Manchester United should have beaten them, they saw off Preston in the Fifth Round with an undeserved last-minute winner and were a goal down at home to Plymouth in the Fourth Round.

However, being paired with promotion-chasing West Brom, they appear to have got the toughest draw on paper - although, with this season's competition, who knows!

The Baggies - who can be backed at [4.7] - will have to juggle the excitement, anticipation and fixture problems associated with a cup run and promotion bid for a little longer. If they reach the final and are involved in the Championship Play-Off Final, Albion will make three Wembley appearances in a matter of weeks.

Cardiff ([5.5] to back) and Barnsley ([8.0] to back) must both be thinking they can make the final, having avoided the other two. It's not an easy game to call as they are only a couple of points apart in the Championship table, although both will be wary of letting their guard slip in the league to focus on the cup - neither is truly safe from relegation.

The semi-final draw:

Barnsley v Cardiff City
West Brom v Portsmouth

The semi-finals will be played at Wembley Stadium on the weekend of April 5th and 6th

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