Redknapp backs a winner in Kanu

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp was delighted with Kanu after the Nigerian striker's 54th-minute tap-in floored West Brom at Wembley in the semi-final of the FA Cup.

The second-half winner against Kanu's former side was enough to shoot Portsmouth into their first FA Cup final since 1939 next month.

Kanu, 31, notched only his sixth goal of the season in only his 14th start, but Redknapp confirmed: "He has earned an extra year on his contract by playing in 25 games and on the strength of that I'd certainly give him that."

Redknapp admitted his side to get the better of Championship promotion-chasers Albion but said: "Once we had gone in front I felt fairly comfortable because I know it takes something special to beat (goalkeeper) David James.

"With Jermain Defoe cup-tied I haven't got a prolific scorer and it was a concern where the the goals were going to come from.

"Kanu certainly hasn't scored many lately but we changed things a bit at half-time, pushed him up and brought in Niko Kranjcar and Papa Diop from the flanks to play a bit narrower."

Kanu admitted: "It was a simple opportunity. It was easy to score. Of course I'm sorry for West Brom because they are my old team but I think we must win it now.

"If we don't we have let the fans down.

"West Brom set off better than us. They are the best footballing side in the Championship and gave us problems but we came through it and Sol Campbell, Sylvain Distin, Glen Johnson and Hermann (Hreidarsson) were solid as always at the back."