Statham recalls his double misery

Less than four days to go now – and Albion's old guard are bristling with optimism as the focus on Saturday's FA Cup semi-final sharpens.

None more so than Derek Statham, one of the most talented defenders ever to wear the blue and white stripes and also one of the unluckiest.

It was Statham's fate to experience football's ultimate "downer" – the losing dressing room at a semi-final in both 1978 and 82.

On top of that, the attack-minded Wolverhampton-born left back constantly came off second best in a career-long battle for England caps with Arsenal's Kenny Sansom despite howls of outrage at least from this part of the country.

But Statham, who now lives the good life in Spain but remains interested in all matters Albion, is as chirpy as his football used to be as he ponders the remainder of the season.

"I've not got a problem with this game, I'm very optimistic," he insists. "I hear a lot of people fretting because Portsmouth are a Premiership side but I think we've a great chance. They are a good side but Albion are well capable of beating them.

"You have to accept that they are the stronger team defensively. David James is playing very well and (Sol) Campbell has put his game back together but they don't score bags of goals and don't frighten you going forward.

"I think it is going to be an open contest, very entertaining and with a few goals. It's a very close call as I see it. But we're strong going forward. I'm impressed with Albion when they attack, they have goals all over the team. And this is a one-off. They have got to give it everything and realise they may not be this way again.

"I don't see anything to fear in the Portsmouth team. I think they are the ones who could be anxious. They are the only Premiership team left and all the expectation is on them.

"They will be feeling they can't hope to have a better chance. But we were favourites in 1978 and 1982 and I can tell you it can be a problem as we discovered." Statham can afford to chuckle about those two dates but he admits there was nothing funny about it at the time.

"Are you sure I played in 82?" he says, mocking his performance. "I think I was on the pitch but I didn't perform I'm afraid

"I think that applied to some of the other lads as well. I don't know whether we froze or perhaps we thought 'this is going to be easy,' We were the favourites after all.

"But nothing felt right that day. I can still remember Martyn Bennett playing in midfield, a position he had never occupied in his life before, with Gary Owen sitting on the bench which didn't help. And we just didn't perform.

"It was a horrible scruffy, lucky goal that beat us but that's the bottom line – we got beat. And I've got to say it was pretty much the same story in 78, we were favourites for that one as well.

"It was very disappointing and you are always thinking you will get another chance but the truth is they are few and far between.

"Very, very disappointing; the worse moments of my career. Just to have the Cup Final to look forward is so special for the players and the fans and that's why I really hope they can do it."

But Statham's career disappointments are long gone now as he looks forward to a new business venture forged with contacts in his home city.

The former Albion full-back will be selling spas and hot tubs to the locals on the Costa del Sol in a venture backed by Henry Carver and his company.

"It's all a bit upmarket round here with plenty of people who have done well for themselves and that's what we're looking to tap into," says Statham. "Tony Grealish is living over here as well these days and we he will be coming in on the project a little later.

"I wanted to get over for the semi-final but I got wrapped up in launching the business and I'll be watching the game in one of the bars with a bunch of Portsmouth fans which should make for some good banter. I'll be cheering the lads on quite confident that we can do it. I've already made plans to make sure I can get over for the final. That's how confident I am."