Kranjcar grateful for Wigan win ahead of Cup semi-final

Croatian national football team player Niko Kranjcar, seen here in February 2008, believes Portsmouth's win over Premier League rivals Wigan last weekend was the ideal tonic as the south coast club prepare for Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against West Bromwich Albion at Wembley.

Croatian international Niko Kranjcar believes Portsmouth's win over Premier League rivals Wigan last weekend was the ideal tonic as the south coast club prepare for Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against West Bromwich Albion at Wembley.

Portsmouth, who haven't played in a major match at Wembley since they won the FA Cup for the only time in their history way back in 1939, are the only top-flight club left in the knockout competition this season, with the three other semi-finalists all coming from the second-tier Championship.

They head to north London sixth in the Premier League after a 2-0 win over the Latics and Pompey playmaker Kranjcar said: "It was a good performance against Wigan and we are ready for Wembley now.

"It was important for us in terms of confidence for the West Brom game. It's the most important game of the season for us," he told The News, the city's daily newspaper, on Monday.

Jermain Defoe scored both of Pompey's goals against Wigan at Fratton Park, the England striker taking his tally for the south coast club to eight goals in seven games since his 7.5 million pounds (15 million dollars) move from Tottenham Hotspur.

Defoe, however, is cup-tied and so will be unavailable to face West Brom.

"It's always great to have a real goalscorer in the team and there is no doubt Jermain is that," Kranjcar added.

"He is capable of getting a goal and can turn things even when we are not on top. He put in a great performance against Wigan."

Portsmouth, who sensationally beat Manchester United 1-0 at the English champions and Premier League leaders' Old Trafford home ground in the quarter-finals, will be firm favourites to defeat a West Brom side that moved into fourth in the Championship table with a dramatic 4-3 win over Colchester last time out.

But Kranjcar warned: "We know they are going to be tough opponents. Whoever gets to the semi-finals are good because they deserve to be there.

"But we are also focused because we know what an opportunity this is going to be for us. We have better individuals and the better team - but we have to prove that."

Hermann Hreidarsson, John Utaka and Kranjcar picked up knocks against Wigan, while Lassana Diarra, Lucien Aubey and Kanu missed out through injury.

But other than the enforced absence of Defoe, Portsmouth's veteran manager Harry Redknapp expects his side to be at full-strength against West Brom with Senegal midfielder Papa Bouba Diop back from suspension.

"You don't want injuries but it's not too bad. There were one or two nasty little knocks but they should hopefully be okay," said Redknapp.

"They'll all be back. We'll be okay. We'll be at full strength apart from Jermain Defoe."