Victory gave Grant a rare reason to smile in a tough season

Portsmouth manager Avram Grant believes the club's financial crisis had only increased their will to succeed after their 4-1 FA Cup win over Southampton.

This week the courts gave them seven days to try and avoid being wound up.

"I had two choices. To give up or show to the players that we will make our spirit even higher," said Grant.

"I will fight until the last moment as long as we have a chance on the pitch. What happens in court is out of my hands," added the Pompey boss.

"If they need to punish someone then it is a person that does something wrong. I don't know who that is but it is not us."

If I wrote a book about Portsmouth it would be a best-seller Avram Grant

Earlier this week the Football Association charged Grant with misconduct after he came onto the pitch at half-time during their game with Sunderland to confront the referee.

After the win over Southampton, Grant was again on the pitch, but this time it was to applaud his team's fans for their dedication and support in such a testing time.

PHIL MCNULTY'S BLOG The only winding-up Portsmouth were subjected to on Saturday came courtesy of Saints' fans waving wallets and cash in their direction, and the sight of fake sheikhs dotted around St Mary's

"I'm very emotional and this is an emotional game," said Grant.

"If you win, you make 250,000 other people happy, this is what football is about.

"If I wrote a book about Portsmouth it would be a best-seller.

"I see the passion of everyone at the club - the fans, the players and the staff. There is a passion to succeed.

"I was very happy to see the decision from the High Court. There are many people around and it's not their fault."

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