Following Middlesbrough's elimination from the FA Cup today, Portsmouth are the only top flight side left in the competition and are now odds on favourites to lift the famous old trophy.
Joining Pompey in the hat for the semi-final draw are Barnsley, Cardiff City and West Bromwich Albion. Which of these sides would provide the easiest route to the final and which one, if any would Pompey want to avoid? Let's take a look...
Barnsley
Championship Position: 19th
Cup History: Winners in 1912
Manager: Simon Davey
Key Players: Lewin Nyatanga, Stephen Foster, Brian Howard
FA Cup Run
Round 3: Blackpool (H) 2-1
Round 4: Southend (A) 0-1
Round 5: Liverpool (A) 1-2
Round 6: Chelsea (H) 1-0
Strengths: Barnsley hold the "giant killers" tag of this season's competition after producing a stunning last-gasp winner at Anfield and then outplaying Chelsea at Oakwell to complete another major upset. Simon Davey has installed a great deal of fight and belief into the Yorkshire outfit and they will not fear Pompey.
Weaknesses: Barnsley are not 19th in the Championship for nothing. Just four points above the relegation zone, the Tykes have conceded a whopping 51 goals in the league which suggests a shaky defence if put under pressure and they haven't travelled well this season either having won only once on the road in the league and that was at Southampton. Could the Wembley nerves get to them and would they have one eye on avoiding relegation?
Cardiff City
Championship Position: 14th
Cup History: Winners in 1927
Manager: Dave Jones
Key Players: Joe Ledley, Peter Whittingham, Paul Parry
FA Cup Run
Round 3: Chasetown (A) 1-3
Round 4: Hereford (A) 1-2
Round 5: Wolves (H) 2-0
Round 6: Middlesbrough (A) 0-2
Strengths: Cardiff have plenty of experience in their ranks which should stand them in good stead for the big occasion at Wembley. Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Robbie Fowler have all performed on the big stage. The likes of Darren Purse and Stephen McPhail have all experienced the big occasion too whilst young talent like Joe Ledley and Aaron Ramsey give the Bluebirds a good balance.
Weaknesses: Dave Jones can be seen as a bit tactically inept at times and this means that Cardiff are very inconsistent, hence their league position. They are also yet to be truly tested during this FA Cup run after a truly abysmal showing by Middlesbrough. If we draw Cardiff then I expect us to give them the toughest game they have faced all season.
West Bromwich Albion
Championship Position: 4th
Cup History: Winners in 1888, 1892, 1931, 1952 and 1968
Manager: Tony Mowbray
Key Players: Kevin Phillips, Roman Bednar, Ishmael Miller
FA Cup Run
Round 3: Charlton (A) 1-1
Round 3 Replay: Charlton (H) 2-2 (4-2 on pens)
Round 4: Peterborough (A) 0-3
Round 5: Coventry (A) 0-5
Round 6: Bristol Rovers (A) 1-5
Strengths: Albion score goals for fun having netted 92 times this season already. The likes of Kevin Phillips, Roman Bednar, Ishmael Miller, Zoltan Gera and Robert Koren have so many goals in them and they play some excellent passing football. On paper the Baggies are the strongest side we could face and I'm sure Dean Kiely would relish getting one over his former club.
Weaknesses: From what I've seen of Mowbray's side, they lack a plan B and struggle to adjust their style of play when playing against the more stubborn sides in the country. Their defence isn't that strong, having conceded too many goals to top the Championship and their away form is far from amazing too. They've also suffered defeat at Wembley once after losing to Derby in last years play-off final and you do wonder if Mowbray will ensure that promotion remains the priority.
Whatever way you look at it, we're in for a tough game against whoever we draw as we've hardly covered ourselves with glory against Championship opposition this season. Having said that we are clearly the best team left in the competition and so long as we don't show any complacency then there is no reason why we shouldn't be lifting the FA Cup come May.
Joining Pompey in the hat for the semi-final draw are Barnsley, Cardiff City and West Bromwich Albion. Which of these sides would provide the easiest route to the final and which one, if any would Pompey want to avoid? Let's take a look...
Barnsley
Championship Position: 19th
Cup History: Winners in 1912
Manager: Simon Davey
Key Players: Lewin Nyatanga, Stephen Foster, Brian Howard
FA Cup Run
Round 3: Blackpool (H) 2-1
Round 4: Southend (A) 0-1
Round 5: Liverpool (A) 1-2
Round 6: Chelsea (H) 1-0
Strengths: Barnsley hold the "giant killers" tag of this season's competition after producing a stunning last-gasp winner at Anfield and then outplaying Chelsea at Oakwell to complete another major upset. Simon Davey has installed a great deal of fight and belief into the Yorkshire outfit and they will not fear Pompey.
Weaknesses: Barnsley are not 19th in the Championship for nothing. Just four points above the relegation zone, the Tykes have conceded a whopping 51 goals in the league which suggests a shaky defence if put under pressure and they haven't travelled well this season either having won only once on the road in the league and that was at Southampton. Could the Wembley nerves get to them and would they have one eye on avoiding relegation?
Cardiff City
Championship Position: 14th
Cup History: Winners in 1927
Manager: Dave Jones
Key Players: Joe Ledley, Peter Whittingham, Paul Parry
FA Cup Run
Round 3: Chasetown (A) 1-3
Round 4: Hereford (A) 1-2
Round 5: Wolves (H) 2-0
Round 6: Middlesbrough (A) 0-2
Strengths: Cardiff have plenty of experience in their ranks which should stand them in good stead for the big occasion at Wembley. Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Robbie Fowler have all performed on the big stage. The likes of Darren Purse and Stephen McPhail have all experienced the big occasion too whilst young talent like Joe Ledley and Aaron Ramsey give the Bluebirds a good balance.
Weaknesses: Dave Jones can be seen as a bit tactically inept at times and this means that Cardiff are very inconsistent, hence their league position. They are also yet to be truly tested during this FA Cup run after a truly abysmal showing by Middlesbrough. If we draw Cardiff then I expect us to give them the toughest game they have faced all season.
West Bromwich Albion
Championship Position: 4th
Cup History: Winners in 1888, 1892, 1931, 1952 and 1968
Manager: Tony Mowbray
Key Players: Kevin Phillips, Roman Bednar, Ishmael Miller
FA Cup Run
Round 3: Charlton (A) 1-1
Round 3 Replay: Charlton (H) 2-2 (4-2 on pens)
Round 4: Peterborough (A) 0-3
Round 5: Coventry (A) 0-5
Round 6: Bristol Rovers (A) 1-5
Strengths: Albion score goals for fun having netted 92 times this season already. The likes of Kevin Phillips, Roman Bednar, Ishmael Miller, Zoltan Gera and Robert Koren have so many goals in them and they play some excellent passing football. On paper the Baggies are the strongest side we could face and I'm sure Dean Kiely would relish getting one over his former club.
Weaknesses: From what I've seen of Mowbray's side, they lack a plan B and struggle to adjust their style of play when playing against the more stubborn sides in the country. Their defence isn't that strong, having conceded too many goals to top the Championship and their away form is far from amazing too. They've also suffered defeat at Wembley once after losing to Derby in last years play-off final and you do wonder if Mowbray will ensure that promotion remains the priority.
Whatever way you look at it, we're in for a tough game against whoever we draw as we've hardly covered ourselves with glory against Championship opposition this season. Having said that we are clearly the best team left in the competition and so long as we don't show any complacency then there is no reason why we shouldn't be lifting the FA Cup come May.