Article by Sean Wozencroft

It has been a great season for Bluebirds central defender Roger Johnson, now coming to the end of his second year with Cardiff City after being signed from Wycombe Wanderers for a £275,000 fee in early-July 2006. He has played 51 of our 55 Championship and Cup matches, the other four games seeing him as non-playing substitute. He has scored 7 times this season, been named Player of the Year by Bluebirds Supporters, and is regarded outside the Club as one of the most improved players in the Championship. And he could now finish an outstanding season by gaining an F.A. Cup winners' medal against Portsmouth at Wembley on Saturday.

The Cup has a special place in Roger's heart - "It was always a big thing in our house, F.A. Cup Final day. My two brothers, Mum, Dad and myself used to sit there and watch the whole thing. I was a Chelsea fan, and still keep a close eye on what they are doing, so when they were in the Final it was a bonus, but whoever was playing we'd always make it a family event and all watch it together. Now I'll be playing in one, if selected, and I just can't get my head around it. I've been to a couple of Finals in the last few years, but now to be in one is going to be a lot different from watch it."

Our progress to the Final has been about the experience of some of the senior players as well as team-spirit and Roger recognises the importance of veteran striker Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink - "He's good to have around the place, he's bubbly and he moans a lot. But he tries to get the best out of the boys, and that's good. He doesn't like losing, and I'm the same. We've both clashed a bit this season but that's from us both having the will to win. He expects the best from everyone, we've had a couple of arguments, but then who hasn't had an argument with Jimmy-Floyd. It sometimes gets heated in training, and sometimes there are differences of opinions within matches. You tell each other what you think of them, and then it's done and dusted after that!"

Although Roger and Glenn Loovens have been the regular central-defensive choice this season, Roger takes nothing for granted - "Me and Glenn have been in there for the majority of the season, but with Darren ready to step in it has been tough competition. You obviously make a few mistakes over the season, sometimes over a few successive games, and then you find yourself under pressure for your position."

And now as the build-up and preparation for the Final is well under way, Roger is looking at a likely Portsmouth line-up - "I don't know if they'll play five in midfield and one up front, or go for a 4-4-2 formation. I'm sure that Kanu will play, and then it's whether or not Baros plays in attack with him. I like a battle and I'm looking forward to it. You've got to test yourself against these good players otherwise you don't know if you're good enough to get there yourself."

Roger's solid performances have led to media speculation that a number of Premiership clubs are monitoring his progress, but he's not too concerned about that - "It's flattering, but I'm happy with Cardiff City and I'm certainly not going to push for anything. It's all paper talk, this speculation about the Premiership - if I was to go anywhere, I'd seriously consider whether I was going to play regularly or not because I don't want to go and sit on someone's bench and watch football - I could buy a season-ticket and do that!

I knew when I signed for Cardiff that this club was going places - we've pushed again in the Championship and just missed out. The Cup is something that we deserve - we're there on merit having beaten the sides put in front of us. It's a really good decision that I made to come here. I knew that I wanted to leave Wycombe Wanderers and test myself higher. Cardiff City is a great club to be at, a great set of lads, great staff, and I enjoy everything about it - apart from not being in the England squad!"