Portsmouth Provide 'Big Club' Opposition

After literally hours of anticipation, City’s fate in the fourth round of the Carling Cup has been decided.

Big guns such as Manchester United, Arsenal (well, their reserve team
anyway) and Everton joined the Bluebirds in the last six to be drawn out of the pot, but the best Niall Quinn and Brian Marwood could manage was a home tie against Portsmouth.

Graham Kavanagh gave one of those media friendly interviews the Echo thrives on before the draw was made, indicating City could win the second best Cup competition in English football.

“The Millennium Stadium in the final would be a dream, but why not?” jested Kavanagh, who has been busy cultivating a supply of four leaf clovers in his attic for just such an occasion.

"We'll need a touch of luck along the way, but if the draw goes our way we definitely have a chance."

The man doth have a point. Potential banana skins and usual City-esque matches such as Burnley or Watford away were avoided and instead Kav & Co.were rewarded with a home tie at the fourth time of asking.

Portsmouth are certainly a beatable side and teams such as Colchester who knocked out West Brom in the second round and Burnley, who sent Aston Villa packing on Tuesday night, proved there is room in this competition for the little guy.

During a season of one disappointment after another, a good Cup run to blot out thoughts of relegation would be a welcome tonic.