By Harry Reekie
**Frederic Piquionne scored twice as Portsmouth put their off-field problems to one side by beating Birmingham and reaching the FA Cup semi-finals.**The hosts, who entered administration last week, finally went ahead when Piquionne bundled home after the break.
The on-loan striker then raced onto a neat Jamie O’Hara pass and turned Roger Johnson before slotting home in style.
Birmingham were unlucky to see a header from Liam Ridgewell not given late on despite the ball crossing the line.
Portsmouth beat Manchester United at this stage of their run to Cup glory back in 2008 but victory at Wembley this season would surely represent a greater achievement under such dire financial circumstances.
Ironically, the bonuses paid to players following the win two years ago contributed to the precarious position the club now finds itself in.
This victory guarantees £360,000 in prize money, plus another quarter of a million pounds in broadcast rights, but Pompey fans will be more satisfied with a display full of passion and pride.
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Birmingham, meanwhile, miss the chance to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1975 but with European qualification still a possibility in the league, manager Alex McLeish will at least have something to focus his players on.
After their second successive win, the Portsmouth playing staff are clearly not struggling to concentrate on the job at hand, and goalkeeper David James needed to be at his sharpest in the early stages.
The England World Cup hopeful produced a brilliant low save to deny Cameron Jerome in what was the only clear chance of the first half.
Portsmouth badly lacked a cutting edge early on but there was no lack of purpose in their passing and approach.
Piquionne looked lively up front, testing Hart with a couple of low drives, while O’Hara again pulled the strings in an industrious midfield.
But shots on goal were few and far between.
John Utaka burst through with the interval approaching but sent a dreadful effort way off target. It was an attempt that summed up a forgettable half of football.
Hart and James were no doubt hoping to out-do each other in the race to be named as England’s number one keeper for the World Cup, but a lack of chances certainly reduced their opportunities to impress.
Thankfully, the second half improved for all concerned. Hart had to be quick off his line to deny Utaka immediately after the break while James was happy to see Lee Bowyer slice a volley high and wide.
Birmingham had Barry Ferguson to thank for clearing the ball off Utaka’s head after a knock-back by the impressive Piquionne, before Seb Larsson forced James into a tip-over at the other end.
But Pompey finally broke through in a game that desperately needed a goal.
A goalmouth scramble ended with Danny Webber putting pressure on Hart and the loose ball bounced perfectly off the goalkeeper’s right foot for Piquionne to bundle into the net.
Birmingham looked bewildered and a lack of concentration saw them quickly slip further behind amid wild celebrations on the south coast.
Another clever ball from O’Hara set Piquionne racing through, and the striker turned Johnson inside out before slotting under Hart to the delight of the home fans.
The visitors really should have set up a tense finale when a close-range header from Ridgewell trickled fractionally over the line before being scrambled clear by James.
But the officials incorrectly decided the whole ball had not crossed and Portsmouth held on in the dying minutes to secure another trip to Wembley in a truly memorable season.
Birmingham will not have to long to wait for a chance of revenge though - the teams meet again at Fratton Park in the Premier League on Tuesday.