Bluebirds for final flourish

There are a plethora of special bets available on Saturday’s FA Cup final but a simple wager on Cardiff City lifting the cup, at 5-2 with Bet365, could be the way to go.

Paddy Power are betting on what David James’ hairstyle will be and are inviting customers to have a punt on the BBC’s peak viewing audience, but backing Cardiff to win by any means - in normal time, after extra-time or via penalties - makes more sense.

Wembley must have seemed a million miles away for Cardiff when they trailed non-league Chasetown as half-time approached in their third-round tie but the Bluebirds came through that scare and went on to knock out Hereford, Wolves, Middlesbrough and Barnsley.

Dave Jones’s men, who are generally 4-1 to win in normal time, also flirted with reaching the Championship play-offs but came up a bit short. It speaks volumes for their ability, though, that they did not lose to West Bromwich Albion, the champions, at home or away. They also took four points off Hull City.

Cardiff showed exactly what they are capable of when good value for their 2-0 win away to Middlesbrough in the quarter-finals and, if they can repeat that kind of form, could embarrass a Portsmouth team who seem to have run out of puff.

Pompey, 1-3 to lift the trophy, have already beaten four Championship en route to the decider  - Ipswich, Plymouth, Preston and West Brom - but they needed good fortune on each occasion and, in between, rode their luck to stun Manchester United.

Since reaching the final with an unconvincing win over West Brom, Harry Redknapp’s team have been well below-par, taking only one point from their last five Premier League fixtures. They have scored just goal during this time, too, and, on that front, their cause is not helped by principal striker Jermain Defoe being cup-tied.