Chelsea fans have enjoyed the greatest successes in the club’s history since Roman Abramovich took over the club in 2004. Two big prizes have eluded them though-the Champions League and,up to this weekend- the domestic ‘Double’.

Now the Double has been secured thanks to a hard-fought victory over Portsmouth. The record books will show a bland 1-0 scoreline but that hardly tells the story of a match that refused to follow the script.

Chelea had been favourites to score a bagful of goals and they could easily have come in at half-time with a decisive lead. The Blues hit the woodwork five times in the first period including miss of the season- and possibly the decade- by Salomon Kalou from five yards out and no one in front of him.

Portsmouth battled hard but Chelsea seemed able to cut through the relegated side with some ease. The South Coasters clearly took heart though, because Avram Grant’s team came out after the break with a sharper approach and matched Chelsea for long spells.

The feeling crept in that this might be Portsmouth’s day and when substitute Javier Belletti rashly challenged Aruna Dindane, Pompey had a penalty. Unfortunately for their fans, Kevin Prince-Boateng hit a weak shot that Petr Cech saved with his legs.

As is often the case, Chelsea were in front very quickly after that let -off. David James had produced one excellent save to deny Didier Drogba’s free kick in the first half but he couldn’t reach another precise effort from the Ivorian.

The striker makes a habit of scoring in cup finals and though Portsmouth remained in the game they never really created another gilt-edged chance. The afternoon became notable for a second missed penalty when Frank Lampard of all people pulled his shot wide of the post.

Chelsea’s defence made sure that Lampard didn’t have to regret his miss. Michael Ballack might have felt justice was done as he was forced to leave the action after a late challenge from Prince-Boateng in the first half.

Chelsea have now won the FA Cup three times in four seasons and Ashley Cole has broken the record for winner’s medals, which has stood since the Nineteenth Century. The left back now has six in his collection- three with Chelsea and three with Arsenal.

Related posts:

1. FA Cup Final- How Many Chelsea Will Score?
2. Chelsea Take the Premier League Title In Style
3. Villa Maintain Push for Second Final But Must Take On Chelsea

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Leeds

The Whites are odds-on (1/5) to join Norwich City back in the Championship next season although the likes of Millwall, Swindon, Charlton and even Huddersfield are all waiting in the wings should the fallen Yorkshire giants slip up again.

Leeds have simply been down among the dead men for too long after paying the price for ‘living the dream’ under former chairman Peter Ridsdale.

But they have the chance to avoid the dreaded play-offs by putting the Pirates to the sword on home soil on the final day of the regular League One season – and they are certainly fancied to do just that (Leeds 2/7, draw 7/2, Rovers 8/1 in match betting).

Grayson is picking from a position of relative strength at the end of a long season, with just Ben Parker, Paddy Kisnorbo, Jason Crowe and Aidy White on the sidelines.

“We’ve got everyone you would expect available,” said Grayson. “We’ll consider all our options and, as I always say, we will put a team out that we believe can do the job we want to do.”

Win and Leeds are up, but any other result makes them vulnerable given their slender one-point advantage over Millwall and Swindon, who meet at the Den.

The Lions could be without top scorer Steve Morrison with the hitman facing a late fitness test on a hamstring problem although fit-again Gary Alexander, who himself is no stranger to the back of the net, is ready to be pitched in following a bad heel injury.

Robins forward Vincent Pericard, once of Juventus, Portsmouth and Stoke, looks set to sit the game out with a heel problem of his own after missing last weekend’s 3-2 victory over Brentford.

Swindon chief Danny Wilson admits his side will be under the best kind of pressure.

He told the BBC:  “You’ve just got to enjoy it. I’d certainly rather be in our position than fighting against relegation.

“We’ll go out and remember this time because they don’t come around too often.”

At the other end of the League One table, four clubs are slugging it out to avoid joining Southend, Wycombe and Stockport in League Two next season.

Tranmere, Gillingham, Hartlepool or Exeter will lose their place in the division, with the unlucky club’s players set for a miserable summer break.

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