Is it written in the stars for Albion & Pompey?

1968 winning side
By Jemma Tappenden
April 4 2008

Past statistics might mean nothing as far as Tony Mowbray and Harry Redknapp are concerned, but nonetheless we quite like them here on Astle Central! So buckle your seat belts and prepare for a statistical ride that might just knock your socks off! Ok, so I exaggerated a tad, but the ties between Pompey and Albion suggest FA Cup glory for one of these sides might be written in the stars.

West Brom have a fantastic opportunity to create a first ever piece of FA Cup history, knocking out Portsmouth would guarantee a first all ever Championship final. In addition this is also the first time in 100 years that only one top flight club has qualified for the semi finals.

But if we delve a little deeper the history between West Brom and Portsmouth in the FA Cup seems to suggest that the winner of this might just go on to complete the journey.

Sixty nine years ago Pompey knocked out West Brom and then went on to win the trophy. The sole time they have lifted the FA Cup. West Brom on the other hand have won this trophy a total of five times, and coincidentally knocked out Portsmouth on two of the occasions they went on to win it in 1931 and 1968.

1931 was a double celebration for the Baggies – they became the only side to have ever won the cup and been promoted in the same season. Albion were also the first side to win the trophy with a team made up entirely of English born players, something which seems almost nonsensical in today’s footballing world.

Tomorrow Harry Redknapp’s Pompey side look to secure a 4^th place in the FA Cup final, with what is their sixth semi final appearance. Albion have a somewhat more boast worthy history in the cup. Tomorrow will be their 20^th semi final appearance, only Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton can boast more semi final appearances than that.

A win for the Baggies would see them make an incredible 11^th FA Cup final appearance. Albion last lifted this trophy in 1968, the legendary Jeff Astle scoring in every round of the competition.