We'll turn you all on: Big four won't be missed in Cup classics, pledges Redknapp

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This is the first time since 1987 that none of the big four has made the last four and some TV bosses are fearing a turn-off.

Past masters: Portsmouth's Niko Kranjcar, Kayode Odejayi of Barnsley, West Bromwich's Roman Bednar and Peter Whittingham of Cardiff model the strips worn when their teams last won the FA Cup

But Portsmouth, West Bromwich, Barnsley and Cardiff have all sold out their ticket allocations and Redknapp said last night: 'It might not be the four teams you expected to see but it's a terrific competition this year. All four clubs will be slugging it out and trying to put on a show.

'There's no Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea, but having these four teams is good for the romance of the competition.

'We've got a dangerous game against a decent team in West Bromwich, who play good football, and who can begrudge Barnsley and Cardiff their chance?'

Cardiff manager Dave Jones, whose side face Barnsley tomorrow, said: 'The Championship is not just a clogging division.

'A lot of teams play the right way. Barnsley are the same as us. Simon Davey tells his team to get it down and play.'

West Bromwich manager Tony Mowbray also talked up the kind of game his side would seek to play today in the first of the Wembley semi-finals.

He said: 'Man United and Arsenal have the best players who score the most goals and play the most entertaining football.

'That's how I see the game, which is why I like to expand the pitch and risk losing every now and then.'