Disappointed, Yes. Disgraced, Absolutely Not

That's part of being a football fan though, the highs are great and the lows really hurt. You need to experience both so you can appreciate how the opposition are feeling. We've actually had a good decade. Since kicking off the 2000 / 2001 season we've been promoted via a Millennium Stadium Final, won a Wembley semi final, reached an FA Cup Final, enjoyed 5 comfortable seasons in the Championship and bar one scare in 2005 relegation has been something other teams did. By the time the decade ends we'll be playing football in a new stadium and hopefully upping our challenge for promotion to the Premier League.

So all in all we are doing pretty damn well.

So my disappointment will be short lived as I realise just how great a day we had at Wembley.

We went into the match as underdogs, unfancied and with a following of fans that put the authorities on alert especially after the trouble in Machester with Rangers fans a few days before. When we left Wembley yesterday afternoon we left with our heads held high, our players a credit to the shirt after losing the final by a short head, one moment of luck came Pompey's way and it won them the game. The fans were a credit to the club, Cardiff City fans remaining in the stadium to congratulate Portsmouth as they lifted the trophy. Fans who walked out amongst each other shaking hands, and congratulating the opposition. Sharing the success and despair of each other.

There was some booing of each anthem, not as much as it could have been and it sort of felt obligatory, you know you just knew it was going to happen. There was nowhere near as much venom as I've heard at other occasions. That apart the support for both sides was fantastic.

As for the game, Cardiff in my view had the better the open 30 mins and should have capitalised but we suffered from the same issues that have dogged us all season, lack of firepower up front, and an error at the back. We made good movement but never created the chances. We were up against a niggly Portsmouth side who were far more streetwise and savvy. They pushed and shoved and fouled and didn't allow us to dominate or stamp our authority. The stats show Pompey committed 22 fouls to our 9. They had three players booked to our none. We need to toughen up. They did what they did and won the trophy.


They also have a team that included players with huge FA Cup experience, winning finals. Sol Campbell and Kanu both collected their 3rd winners medals. They have a team that cost just under £30m plus Hreidarsson, Distin, Campbell and Kanu who were free transfers.

There would have been no disgrace to have lost by two or three. To lose by the bounce of the ball shows just how close we ran them. Portsmouth, like they did in the semi final, won by a tap in from Kanu, and that was the difference. Enckleman can be pointed at for failing to hold the ball, it wasn't easy but the Finn didn't catch a ball all game electing to punch the ball at every oportunity. The goal was unfortunate, Kanu was right time right place. Enckleman will be remembered for the error.

When Aaron Ramsey came on he was at the heart of our push for an qualiser and he found himself in the box but he didn't get that bounce, he didn't get the lucky ricochet that would have sent the game to extra time, Pompey did and history will show they are the cup winners and good luck to them.

Throughout the day I ment many many friends, people who flew in from America, Australia and those from all over the UK. Wonderful to be able to be together with them and my family on Cup Final day.

So to sum up. Disappointed, yes. Disgraced, Absolutely Not.

I'm proud to wear the shirt and to be a Cardiff City supporter.

Thank you to the management and squad of Cardiff City. We don't know who will be here next season but we can etch into the records that the squad of 2007 / 2008 - Cardiff City. FA Cup Finalists.