Quite whether Harry Redknapp will regard Portsmouth's participation in tomorrow's fourth-round draw as a welcome bonus or simply bothersome, given Pompey's Premiership insecurity, is debatable. At least it will give him something fresh to moan about, other than his predecessor's acquisitions during Redknapp's absence along the South Coast. Still, whatever Alain Perrin's merits as a diviner of talent, he was indirectly responsible for this triumph yesterday, his summer signing, Dario Silva, embroidering this contest with a piece of Premiership class which secured what transpired to be the winner.

Redknapp acclaimed the victory, and his scorer, with rather less than thumping enthusiasm. "It was a win, wasn't it?" he said with a shrug. And Silva's status? "I don't know. I don't know whether he's on loan or permanent," was the dismissive addendum from a manager who is determined to ship out those surplus to requirements as fast as he can bring replacements in now that he is in the unusual position, for him, of having significant financial backing.

Redknapp can perhaps afford to be blasé about the squad he has inherited. Like a latter-day Viv Nicholson, he has the avaricious look of a man who will Spend, Spend, Spend! Whether he will actually be the recipient of the riches - reputedly £20 million is in the transfer coffers - implicit in the arrival of Portsmouth's new co-owner, Alexandre Gaydamak, who with his father Arkady could have emanated from the imagination of John Le Carré, is another matter.

But that doesn't deter Redknapp's ambitions. "It's every football club's dream to have a man like that walk through the front door," he said of Gaydamak, who was absent yesterday because of what was described as a previously arranged engagement in Berlin. "What an opportunity for this football club."

He insisted that the £4.1m club record signing of Benjani Mwaruwari from Auxerre will be followed by others, as he seeks to bring in "more quality".

In studied contrast, his counterpart Joe Royle is having to rebuild his Ipswich team on an economy basis, although some of his players who have emerged from the academy ranks, like the 17-year-old striker Danny Haynes, are displaying distinct promise. As Ipswich strove desperately for an equaliser, Haynes, theironly fit forward, turned splendidly in the area before driving the ball narrowly wide of the far post.

The Championship club's elimination was tough on Royle - the last English manager to lift the FA Cup, with Everton, in 1995 - and his team, who in the second half could have earned a replay if they had been blessed with more fortune around goal.

Their best first-half chance arrived after Scott Barron, another academy player, induced indecision in the visitors' rearguard with a ball into the penalty area. Gregory Vignal managed to clear, but the ball ran kindly for Gavin Williams, who should have at least tested Sander Westerveld.

Portsmouth, though, struck with brutal effect eight minutes from half-time. Silva started and finished the incisive move, breaking from his own half and playing the ball out to Matthew Taylor on the left flank. His cross was inch perfect, allowing the Uruguayan a clear header which he directed down past goalkeeper Shane Supple. (Just for the record, Harry, Silva was signed on a free transfer from Seville by Perrin on transfer deadline day).

After the interval, Haynes might have equalised. Then Darren Currie's free-kick was turned on to the near post by Jason De Vos. But, as both managers concurred, for all Town's excellent passing and probing, they lacked a cutting edge.

Would that Royle had such a sugar daddy, and a grand-daddy, too, by all accounts, as Redknapp has recently acquired. "About to play fantasy football, isn't he?" the Ipswich manager reflected. It was said with more than a hint of envy.

Nick Townsend (Independent)