Fans' prediction for final score

By Nick Horton BBC News, at Wembley

Expectations of who will win are very high on both sides

Blue is definitely the colour at Wembley on FA Cup Final day 2008.

All the roads from the south coast of both England and Wales were awash with the blue that Portsmouth and Cardiff City wear with such pride.

And so of course, was Wembley Way, where thousands of fans mingled without any apparent problems.

Nobody, not least the fans of these two hisoric clubs, expected to be here on English football's showpiece day.

Even as the tensions of the final score mounted in the hours before kick off, both sets of supporters were making the most of it.

The build up to the match was family friendly

Among them were Cardiff fans Sara Jones and her sons Harry Lovell-Jones, aged 10, and Charlie Lovell-Jones, nine.

"We are very nervous," said Ms Jones, who left with her family by 0730 BST.

However, they were quietly confident.

"I think Paul Parry will score and Kevin McNaughton will be significant in defence," she said.

She also has good form in the prediction game, having forecast correctly that Joe Ledley would score the winner in the semi final against Barnsley.

Chris Theobald hopes to raise some cash by dying his hair blue

Portsmouth fan Noah Levy, aged 13, of Elstree, London had a different view however predicting a 2-0 win for Pompey.

Noah was also sporting a club shirt signed by all the Portsmouth squad after he secured an invitation to their training session.

"They were looking good," he said.

Another Pompey fan, Chris Theobald, 23, dyed his hair blue both to support his team and to support a charity, the Association of Young People with ME.

Dawn Cuthbert is hoping for a Pompey victory

Chris, who has ME himself, said he already had pledges of �250 and hoped to raise more.

"I think we will do it by one goal," he forecast.

Yet another Pompey fan with blue hair was Dawn Cuthbert, 43, who also forecast a single goal win for her side.

She admitted that there were divided loyalties in her family, who were Sunderland born and bred.

As fans streamed off trains and coaches, the not-always-melodious strains of their rival chants fought for supremacy.

Alan and Katrina Cross were looking forward to the match

Supporters mingled peacefully together, punctuated by choruses of "Play Up Pompey" and "Bluuuuuebiiiiiirds".

It may not have enhanced the Welsh reputation for musicality, but it made for a great atmosphere.

Enjoying it were husband and wife Alan and Katrina Cross, from Nelson in Caerphilly county.

Mr Cross said: "I'm, really nervous but I don't feel any pressure today. It's one time in your life and it is fantastic."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version