JONES WON'T PLAY BLAME GAME

To the victor, the spoils.

Cardiff manager Dave Jones refused to blame goalkeeper Peter Enckelman for the error which gifted Portsmouth the FA Cup.

Enckelman spilled John Utaka's cross in the first half to allow Kanu to tap in the only goal which gave Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp the first major silverware of his career.

It was another high-profile gaffe from Enckelman, who famously gifted Birmingham a goal in 2002 while playing for Aston Villa when he let a throw-in slide under his foot.

But Jones said: "No blame is to be attached to anybody today. Unfortunately it (the mistake) happened in a cup final but the stats say we matched them in every department. I don't think any of my players could be disappointed.

"We took the game to Portsmouth and unfortunately we just fell at the last hurdle.

"In the first half we had some good chances, unfortunately the one mistake has cost us the game. We matched them in every department."

Cardiff defender Glenn Loovens did have the ball in the Portsmouth net just before half-time but was adjudged to have used his arm in the build-up.

And while Cardiff roused themselves for a stirring finale Portsmouth goalkeeper David James was barely troubled.

Jones, however, was generous in his praise of Redknapp.

He said: "Harry has come away with the cup and fully deserves it. But our players gave everything.

"Joe Ledley was magnificent. Lots of their players were throwing their bodies on the line at the death. They have a lot of quality but they only had one man up front and Harry showed us a lot of respect."

Jones insisted that Cardiff's next challenge was to get into the Premier League, especially if they are to keep their young stars such as 17-year-old Aaron Ramsey, who came on as a second-half substitute.

Jones said: "We think we have a very special talent in Aaron. We've brought him on and hopefully his future will be with this club, if not he won't be fazed. If we are to keep him we need to get into the Premier League.

"The next stage is for us to grow and if we don't then people running the club need shooting.

"But in our division next year there will be only four or five clubs who have not played in the Premier League so it just gets harder and harder. The next stage is to use this as a springboard and kick on. I think we are going places."

Jones revealed he had decided not to play Robbie Fowler because he could not trust his fitness after four months out injured and just two weeks training but added: "It was a hard decision to leave him out. We need somebody like him next year who can score 25 goals a season.

"But let us have a bit of sorrow and wallow in self-pity. I wanted to win and my players today gave it their best shot. We didn't let ourselves down or our families or the club. We had a right go."

He also made special mention of the Cardiff supporters who stayed to the end to see Portsmouth pick up the cup.

Jones said: "The two teams can feel proud of themselves and their supporters. We have brought back a little pride for the FA Cup.

"Today was all about showing everybody what we are about. But this football club will go places now. I was proud to lead them out. The fans were absolutely magnificent."

Redknapp believes he has finally won the Pompey fans over.

He said: "It's been a difficult year in many ways for me but as far as the football is concerned it's fantastic.

"In life, everyone goes through tough times and it's been a difficult few weeks but we got the result today and that's great.

"How will I celebrate? If I can get away and see if my dogs are all right at home then get my wife in the car I'd like to slip out tonight to a nice local restaurant and have a bottle of wine.

"Then maybe I'll take a ride around the town and see how the fans are celebrating.

"Let's face it, this win is all for them isn't it? It's a long time since Pompey fans - a long time for Cardiff fans - have been to a cup final but they've had a great day.

"For me the biggest feeling is one of relief. There are no easy games any more and Cardiff gave us a tough battle.

"But you just have to see it through when the pressure is on just like I've had to go into work every day with a smile on my face. That's my job to make sure everyone's up and not feel sorry for myself."

Redknapp added: "The fans are great and it's a glory day today but as far as achievements go maybe it isn't as big as coming back to the club two years ago and keeping us up when we looked dead and buried."

Redknapp came back to Fratton Park in December 2005 after a year managing local rivals Southampton and had to endure cries of "Judas" from the Pompey supporters, but he steered them clear of relegation.

He said: "It wasn't easy and I have no doubt if we had gone down I wouldn't be here now talking about an FA Cup final win.

"When I looked at the quarter-final draw and saw we'd got Manchester United away I thought that was that again but we got a 1-0 win up there, kept a clean sheet and got none of the credit we should have done.

"But I think the players have deserved this today and so have I, even though I feel for Dave Jones who I've got a lot of time for.

"Kanu has been fantastic for us. That's a semi-final and a final he has won with his goals and yet when I signed him at the start of last season on a free transfer from West Brom people said I was mad.

"I thought when he missed the first chance today it could be costly but he keeps on going, keeps on trying to do the right things and he's a big plus for us."

Pompey now qualify for the UEFA Cup and Redknapp will try to bring in two or three more targets he has been looking at to add to the squad in the summer.

He said: "It depends on who you can get how well you can do but we're hopeful of improving the squad.

"But it is going to be even tougher to get into the top four next season. Tottenham are the only side I can really see possibly doing it with their squad.

"But I'll be looking for the top half of the table again and maybe another Wembley trip. That will do nicely."

Match-winner Kanu, sporting a cap with 'king' written on it, told Sky Sports: "They call me king.

"I have to deliver and hopefully I did. I have to thank God - God made it possible for me to score.

"This is the best moment of my life. I started the game and I won the cup for Portsmouth. I have felt nothing like this."

Kanu hit the post with an earlier chance, but added: "I kept going, I kept my head down and I scored.

"You have to take your chance and that's what I did.

"Portsmouth is not one of the four big clubs, no-one could believe we were going to do it and we did it."

The Nigerian now hopes to stay on with the Fratton Park club.

He added: "I hope the fans, Harry, everyone at the club will remember this day and they are going to give me a contract."