Grant reflects on 'crazy day' at Wembley

Frederic Piquionne and former Tottenham midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng, from the penalty spot, scored the goals in extra time which gave Portsmouth a 2-0 victory against Tottenham in their semi-final.

And manager Grant admitted it was a tribute to what his team had overcome on a weekend which saw them relegated from the Barclays Premier League after having been docked nine points for going into administration with debts of more than 70million.

Grant said: "To be in the final because of what's happened this season is a good lesson to everybody not to take the easy solution. The easy solution is to give up.

"One day I came and all my staff said to me next week there is no club. We could write a book about the many things against us this season. We have lived day by day and despite this we are in the final. It is a crazy day."

Grant also saluted the Portsmouth fans who sang themselves hoarse and stayed celebrating for an hour after the match had finished.

"They were behind the club despite everything. They are so great they deserve it."