James targets Wembley glory

Goalkeeper hoping for good performance

By Lewis Rutledge   Last updated: 17th May 2008

Football Premier League Everton Portsmouth David James

James: Hoping for winner's medal

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David James has admitted he is desperate to finish on the winning side at the third time of asking in an FA Cup final.

James was a member of the Liverpool team that lost to Manchester United in the 1996 final and was then at Aston Villa when they were beaten by Chelsea in 2000.

The 37-year-old goalkeeper will line up for Portsmouth against Cardiff on Saturday and he has called on his team-mates to deliver a good performance.

"I've been here twice before, with Liverpool in 1996 and with Aston Villa in 2000," James recalled in The Sun.

"On both occasions the build-up was great but the performance was sub-standard. People tell me it's third time lucky but I don't believe in luck.

"In my two previous cup finals we didn't play well enough and deserved to lose. It was so frustrating.

Hope

"All I can hope for this time is that we go out there and give a good account of ourselves."

Pompey have had to battle through each round to reach the Wembley showpiece and James is anticipating another tough encounter.

He said: "We've won four ties 1-0 and the other 2-1. it hasn't been pretty but we've done enough to go through.

"I'd like to think the final will be a fantastic spectacle but I'll settle for another one-goal win.

"If we do, then a very good season ends up being a tremendous one."