JAMES 'HAPPY AS LARRY' AFTER CUP WIN

James: Pompey hero

David James felt that Portsmouth deserved to win the FA Cup after their 1-0 victory over Cardiff.

The England international helped Harry Redknapp's side to a memorable Wembley victory over their Championship counterparts, and ensured that the 2008 competition failed to produce one last shock.

The Bluebirds proved to be plucky opponents for Premier League Pompey, but James felt that the best side emerged victorious on the day.

"It's tremendous," he told Sky Sports.

"Cardiff gave a good account of themselves but we were the better team and we deserved the win - so I'm as happy as Larry."

James enjoyed a relatively quiet afternoon in the Pompey goal and insists that a Glenn Loovens effort in the first-half which did beat him was rightly ruled out for a previous misdemeanour.

"It was definite handball and the referee saw it which was good," he added.

"To be fair I didn't really have much to do today, the defence was solid again and as I say we thoroughly deserved the win."

The veteran keeper also feels that Portsmouth were deserving winners of the trophy after a tough run to the final which included a quarter-final contest at Old Trafford with Premier League champions Manchester United.

"It's fantastic," he said.

"In the build up to the final we had to play Manchester United the best team in the country, maybe in Europe, we beat their best team, we had to earn our right to get here."

"Cardiff gave a good account of themselves but we deserved to win the cup this year and hats off to the lads."