Harry: FA Cup best route to Europe March 11 2008
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp admits FA Cup glory now represents his side's only realistic chance of European qualification.
Ninth-placed Pompey host Birmingham on Wednesday night as part of a pack of clubs that have been eyeing a UEFA Cup spot all season.
But now Redknapp's team are the only Premier League outfit still in the FA Cup, and with Spurs having already taken one UEFA Cup spot by winning the Carling Cup, a fifth-place finish would be required should Pompey fail to overcome West Brom in the semi-finals or fall at the final hurdle.
And with Liverpool and Everton fighting so hard for the final Champions League position, Redknapp is convinced overhauling one of those clubs to reach fifth is unlikely.
He said: "The way it has panned out looks to me as though there will only be five European spots from the league so whoever wins the cup will get the last one - unless it's Cardiff of course as they can't qualify.
"And if you are honest you would have to say that Liverpool and Everton look odds-on to finish fourth and fifth. They are 12 points ahead of us and that would take some cutting down with 10 games to go.
"The cup is our best route but we still want to finish as high as we can in the league. We want to keep going and keep going."
Redknapp will welcome striker Jermain Defoe back into the starting line-up against Alex McLeish's relegation-threatened side after the January signing from Spurs was cup-tied for the shock win at Manchester United on Saturday.
Milan Baros will also start as the Czech Republic forward attempts to persuade Redknapp to make his loan move from Lyon permanent in the summer.
Baros won the penalty that gave Pompey their famous victory at Old Trafford, and Redknapp is expecting more from the 26-year-old.
He said: "He has done well and has a great attitude. Even when he has not been playing he has still been part of everything.
"There is a possibility of the move becoming permanent in the summer. We will have to wait and see but he has a big part to play for us before the end of the season."